Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Returned to the UK via Ercan last weekend to find the locks on our luggage had been broken off yet again! This is the second time this has happened in 3 flights out of Ercan in the past 12 months. Nothing was taken from our cases so I suspect they were swiped for drugs. There was no notification from the airport authorities that this had been done, just damaged cases where they had broken the locks. I complained to Pegasus (the airline we used) about this as I thought they would have an interest in how their passengers were treated by the operators at Ercan. No reply from Pegasus of course.
If this is the way travelers at Ercan are to be treated, I will travel to the South in the future.
It would be interesting to know how widespread this practice is at Ercan.

Have been in and out of ECN many times and never had an issue.

Why would the be checking for drugs going out of the country? They actively check with sniffer dogs coming in. Why would they care if you are taking them out, that is for the UK border control.

Photos would be good but some forums will not allow you to post them till you have more than 1 post.

I have never had locks broken off but have had many suitcases damaged going through Ercan
I think they throw them around and jump on them, never had a problem with any other airports and I have been to many

niceone wrote:I have never had locks broken off but have had many suitcases damaged going through Ercan
I think they throw them around and jump on them, never had a problem with any other airports and I have been to many

Niceone, not as bad as this one I hope

http://thefw.com/worlds-worst-baggage-handler/

theoptimist wrote:Returned to the UK via Ercan last weekend to find the locks on our luggage had been broken off yet again! This is the second time this has happened in 3 flights out of Ercan in the past 12 months. Nothing was taken from our cases so I suspect they were swiped for drugs. There was no notification from the airport authorities that this had been done, just damaged cases where they had broken the locks. I complained to Pegasus (the airline we used) about this as I thought they would have an interest in how their passengers were treated by the operators at Ercan. No reply from Pegasus of course.
If this is the way travelers at Ercan are to be treated, I will travel to the South in the future
It would be interesting to know how widespread this practice is at Ercan.

I think you are being very presumptuous; how do you know they were broken at Ercan? As someone who regularly flies from Ercan I can assure you that no luggage handler has enough time and/or space between the luggage rail, the trolley, and the aircraft holds to break anything they are in full view of people getting on and off the aircraft at all times. The locks do not break when luggage is thrown around either! I wish to point out to two issues here;

1. If you are using the tiny locks they have for most luggage, there is 50% chance that the metal arch will seem to move into the locking hole but does not engage, although "it looks" to be in place! I often noticed this because I made sure it is actually locked by tugging on to it. Otherwise, next time the luggage gets thrown/pulled around the locks will move out and open. Since this has hardly happened to anyone else but is happening to you all the time, the problem might be closer home. Please double check by tugging on the lock after "you think" it is locked and make sure that it really is.

2. Ignoring the first point made above, logic tells me that the only other place where the locks can be tampered with can only be at the other end, where luggage from Turkey usually goes on to the conveyors AFTER they are sniffed by customs sniffer dogs on their way. The dogs sometimes do give the wrong signals because for example they might smell another dog's odour on the suitcases (for example if you own a dog, this is quite possible) - in which case the officers would spend a minute or so using a small "monkey" key or a needle to unlock such cases and check for what is inside - without making a mess of the suitcases' contents. Have you not noticed the extra length of time one waits for the luggage of flights from Turkey, compared to others from other destinations in the Mediterranean?

But in my opinion, the fact that this seems to be happening to you all the time makes the first scenario the more likely case, because even by laws of probability, the chances of someone unlocking your suitcases at Ercan (for no apparent reason!) twice out of 3 trips is very close to zero...

If locks were removed for the purpose of a search it would be done at the final destination. So why is the blame pointed at Ercan and not the UK airport, maybe theoptomist should name the airport landed at in the UK.

I once observed a CTA plane being loaded at Stansted and it was obvious that luggage was been handled in such a way to cause damage. A supervisor seemed to remonstrate with the culprits but from the terminal it looked as though he was told to go forth!

Also if the locks used are attached externally to a case then is there not a possibility that they are damaged simply in the handling process. Baggage handlers have a difficult job to perform, especially in the hold of an aircraft so anything sticking out can easily be damaged.

I am an aircraft mechanic.
Whenever I've had to work in the aircraft's cargo bays there are always broken suitcase locks to be found.
The standard locks are very poorly made so can easily be damaged.

Also, Airport Security would be all too aware that they don't need to break the locks off a suitcase to look inside.
They'd only need a pen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf-DGKUNffI

Just to clarify, the locks on all 3 of my cases were broken off on these occasions. The "eyes" on the zippers that the locks are pushed through were broken off so it wasn't a case of the locks simply falling off where they hadn't been closed properly!
It is true that the locks may have been tampered with at Stansted (our destination airport on all of these occasions). I doubt if they were tampered with in Turkey as the luggage stays on the Pegasus aircraft.
Seems odd that it appears to be just my luggage that is tampered with!

I read somewhere not to put padlocks on suitcases, as they are the one's that get broken into, as it looks as if you have something valuable inside.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21614774
i think your answer is in the uk BBC report
Yes we were done last trip out from Birmingham
don't lock our cases but tie a ribbon through the loops and cut the ends off so they can't be re tied if opened
On the particular trip out they had my computer bag emptied its full of wires so understandable
In Turkey there is less than an hour for a transfer and at Ercan the bags were the first off so within 15 minutes of landing we were in the taxi
The ribbons had been cut and the suitcases contents moved but not messed up our
Your experience seems to indicate the UK looking for cigarettes or other things
Plane robbery
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... hefts.html

Why would an advance country like Uk break open your case for as you said cigarettes etc , when they have posible the best XRay machines in the world.

From the Gatwick Airport site Q & A

Q: Can I lock my hold baggage or does it have to be left open?

A: Yes, you can still lock it – but baggage checked in the USA must either be left unlocked or locked with a special padlock approved by the US Transportation Security Administration (http://www.tsa.gov). Your airline will be able to give you further details.
................
Yes, I know this is not Ercan, but it does indicate that bags can / will / may be opened for inspection despite scanners being available ? I have once had a cheap padlock cut off a suitcase coming out of Heathrow, and a large green sticker put on the case advising me it was selected for a security search.

I suppose all the years of travelling abroad

we are lucky we have never had our cases broken into

although we have nothing in there that anyone wants

So feel sorry for the people who have experienced this

In the end it spoils there long awaited holidays

from ''the horses' mouth''.
If a luggage handler is seen even throwing a suitcase, he/she are severley reprimanded. There are camera's installed
to ensure that suitcases are not broken into at Ercan.
I have never locked a suitcase, and thankfully have never had anything go missing.
Ooohhhh, am I tempting fate????

another answer which is now to be found at Ercan, and that is to hav eyour case wrapped/smothered in cellophane. it is a so and so to remove, but it is a deterrent. I did that years ago when in Italy my case had been broken open and a couple of thing s stolen, but the world has moved on in terms of security since then! But of course one could say that the wrapping is just naother way to make money out of people's fear.

But worth doing if you are timorous in any way of your luggage being broken into.

Well I am flying tomorrow Edinburgh - Ercan - will be very interesting to see how things go- given that I will be bringing my metal wall art work with me!
Believe me I will be expecting the call at Ed. to go to the information desk about it. However, I am glad we have all of these checks - after all, mainly it is for the safety of all.

I have had my cases opened a number of times when travelling from the uk to Ercan, each time things of value were taken including one year lots of nicely wrapped christmas gifts............also a pair of ladies boots with price tags still on.
I now only travel from UK to Larnaca....never had that problem again..always used the same departure airport in UK for Journeys either north or south.......
Lesson to be learned me thinks......................

muppet wrote:I have had my cases opened a number of times when travelling from the uk to Ercan, each time things of value were taken including one year lots of nicely wrapped christmas gifts.......also a pair of ladies boots with price tags still on.
I now only travel from UK to Larnaca....never had that problem again..always used the same departure airport in UK for Journeys either north or south.
Lesson to be learned me thinks...

ı find that very hard to believe Muppet! I had worked as a flight instructor flying in and out of Ercan and on occasions actually watched the handlers move luggage from the aircraft to the carousels. There is no chance in hell of anyone finding the time to open and take out wrapped up Christmas gifts as well as ladies boots!

Ercan is not like the huge complicated airports in Europe where passengers and luggage are all over the place sometimes more than a kilometer away from the luggage collection area (travelling through a maze of tunnels and corridors) ! The whole process of unloading luggage at Ercan is very transparent! The distance between the furthest aircraft parking space and the the luggage pick up area is 100 meters at the most. Once loaded it takes the trolley 1-2 minutes to cover that distance and the luggage unloading point is an open area in full view of everyone on the apron including the pilots who may be sitting in the cockpits of some aircraft. The same are also in full view of the spectators on the first floor of the airport, waiting to watch a flights depart or arrive. To top it up, there are security cameras watching every move on the relatively very small apron Ercan has.

In any case, more often than not, the luggage starts appearing at the collection point within 10-15 minutes of the aircraft parking at the apron - hardly enough time for unloading and delivery on to the carousel, never mind anyone getting a chance to break the lock and search through luggage at random, hoping there are Christmas prezzies and new ladies boots! And do what with them afterwards? I witnessed handlers walking into an area allocated to them, where other colleagues and supervisors are stationed in full view of everyone - do you really think no one would see and ask where wrapped up presents, boots etc appeared from?

About dozen members of my close family including myself and ten times as many friends and business associates must have traveled thousands of times between Ercan and Turkey over the past 5 years - I never ever heard of anyone having anything stolen from their luggage! And as someone else said, almost all of us do not even use padlocks on any suitcase.

What lesson to be learned "you thinks" is beyond me - I most certainly have not learned anything and would definitely never fly through Larnaca. Perhaps I should start a new thread about the goings on at Larnaca airport (or in fact some of the airports in London) that you probably never knew or heard of before!

Big Oz look at my post its british customs on the way out and on the way in BBC article
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21614774

I was at the airport last night and noticed quite a lot of cases with transparent polythene covers over them which I havnt noticed before. Maybe its a safety thing?

Hi Big Oz, well believe it or not, the airline actually paid me compensation as i contacted them here, also contacted them in the Uk re time when the christmas presents that were taken, they firstly told me to claim from my travel insurance company, then relented when i contacted the travel company, Cyprus Paradise when it was owned by the Gursoys and Allan Sulieman in the early part off 2007/8.
Along with the TV programme| producers at watch dog................. as we had nearly all the receipts, as family wanted to ensure that presents could be exchanged if not suitable, along with the list of who presents were who's etc this was actually presented to the lady in the office at Ercan before we even left the airport along with the broken lock on case and ripped side of the hold all, clearly showing the lack of contents..............plus i took loads of photographs, so i suggest if you doubt my words you check it out.................many thanks for your reply.

I am sure you are telling the truth Muppet, but I am none the wiser, and I still find it hard to believe (that something like that would happen) because of the reasons I gave.

I have no idea why the airliner should pay you if it was the ground handlers who usually belong to the "airport's authority", unless the airline in question was Turkish Airlines (who may use their own ground handling stuff but I am not sure they if they do it in Ercan). Receipts are no proof that those items were in your luggage! But if all the TV and other bodies you mentioned got involved because you were so eager to make someone pay, it is highly likely the airline opted to pay out to avoid "bad publicity" that would damage reputation for whatever little sum that was involved (accepting responsibility in these situations is not same as accepting guilt).

But if it was the airline who accepted responsibility then surely a change of airline would be the wiser thing to do since "Ercan" ground staff would have had nothing to with the event - I had many mishaps with luggage using European airlines - and that includes the BA!

Furthermore you are referring to an event that took place 5 - 6 years ago! I do not think it does justice to mar an airline or an airport for what you just explained. Ercan had always been the imprisoned Turkish Cypriots' gateway to the rest of the world and the tourism of TRNC. As a Cypriot I will naturally object to any such accusations accompanied by recommendation of Larnaca, an airport where I can start many threads on how (especially) British tourists have been mistreated terribly there, over the recent past!

By the way, this year THY (Turkish Airlines) have been voted the "best airline" for the 3rd successive year in Europe!

I must offer bigoz 100% support on this topic.
It is almost impossible for anyone to steal out of luggage at Ercan, especially on an inbound flight. In UK airports it is a well known fact that millions of pounds worth of luggage is stolen every year and there is opportunity at every stage for luggage to be accessed out of sight. I wonder if any of the people who have lost luggage have gone on a UK forum and complained about Stansted, Heathrow, Manchester or wherever about lost luggage in the same way they seem to enjoy running down Ercan.

I hate the continuing slagging off of Ercan, it may currently need some renovation but it is what it is, a good regional style airport. Maybe if it got the full support of ex-pats it would get additional flights and with increased revenue improve its facilities. I have asked people to add up the real cost of their flights from Larnaca as opposed to Ercan and you only ever get "it is cheaper", not a breakdown to prove it. Yes I know you can get the £29 flights but they are very rare.