I can totally understand the writer 's angst about her Globe Trotter. When you have been together and shared so much for so long - it is hard to have someone else kil it! Different if you decide to retire it yourself! I hate to think just how travel by air has changed in the past 8 years since I became ill and can't travel. Should I really be looking forward to when I recover and hit the travel agents again?????

Ann Thuillier, Limerick, Ireland

I so understand! My suitcases have seen so much of the world as my "companion". But what you describe is not only happening in the US. I fly mostly within Germany or Europe and even with priority tags, my luggage often looks like it was placed on the runway and run over by a baggage lorry... If you complain, at best you get a condescending smile. Apart from that, often the suitcase/bag is searched and this NOT by the police or customs. Or is there another reason why zips are suddenly open?

Name Withheld, Berlin, Germany

The TSA Approved locks are of no use at all either

I bought some thinking I could safely avoid leaving an unlocked case only to find on my return to Heathrow from Miami via Washington that the lock had been broken off anyway and put inside the case.

Richard, Bournemouth, UK

I'm sorry but, I don't get it - isn't this the purpose of owning luggage? You check your luggage, it gets handled as it does at the airport (just normal handling is a beating...it's to be expected), and when you get to where you are going the contents of your luggage are in the shape they were when you packed them. Right? Or am I missing something? I

s the purpose of luggage not to protect the contents? Should I check my grandmothers crystal without putting them in anything to protect them?

I swear, I will never understand people who spend thousands on their luggage...then expect them to remain in pristine condition. If the contents of your luggage are not as valuable as the luggage itself then I suggest you buy a roll of Glad bags next time and stuff them up...then tape them up with duct tape.

noel curry, douglasville, georgia

After a 2 weeks trip to the USA, and flying back to Gatwick from Atlanta, our two extra tough suitcases were completely destroyed - the sides were cracked, the wheels crushed and strangely this damage had happened at BOTH end of each case. I joined the Delta lost/damaged baggage queue and after 10mins lodged the complaint. On way through customs we noticed the other case was bust-up too and had to go back wait 40mins to add this complaint to the first one.
I was given two numbers to call by the Delta guy and both were invalid, then I was given a number to call where all I could do was leave repeated messages saying please call
me. Nobody has called me yet after almost two weeks !
I would expect Delta would do the maths and realise a family who pay £2,700 for flights are worth re-imbursing £90 for their damaged cases so they know they can fly again with confidence, but no, they'd rather see us go with another airline.
Not to mention the damage to the items inside our bags.

Derry Leach, London, UK

I dread travelling by air anymore, I have watched through plane windows my own (brand new) bags tossed on the ground, and broken, by gorilla baggage handlers, only to have the airline shrug and say 'hard cheese'. I have had new expensive bags broken into when they weren't locked, I have been denied entrance to airplanes because I was one minute late getting to the gate because of impossible gate transfer arrangements made by the airline itself, only to watch the plane sit there for a half hour. I have been made so sit on planes for hours at airports, unable to deplane because no gate is available (what happened to the old stairs they used to use on the tarmac?), I have repeatedly jammed my 6' 3" frame into midget-sized seats, and on and on and on. I try not to fly anymore because it is such a horrid ordeal. I have to fly to Arizona for my sisters memorial service in a weeks time, and I am seriously thinking of shipping everything so I don't have to check any bags. What a complete joke.

William, Ithaca, New York, USA

TSA strikes again, I recently returned from Atlanta, starting with my newyl aquired special TSA lock, ending (luckily) with my case BUT minus my special TSA lock, obviously the bozo who wen through my case was dimwitted enough to forget to relock my case. TSA HUH !

Barry Allemby, london, UK

Well said. Our family has lost count of the number of times we have had to deal with this type of idiocy from the airlines.

Airlines have no regard whatsoever for a passenger's belongings, especially here in the US. When I travel, I no longer take anything nice, for fear it will be lost or stolen by "security" (usually according to what's on their Christmas wish-list), unless I can squeeze it into my ever-shrinking allowed cabin baggage. So I end up in Paris, London, etc., looking like a sad slob while all the nice shoes & clothes are safe back at home. If a passenger is REQUIRED to check almost everything they own, then the airlines should be FULLY RESPONSIBLE for anything that is lost or damaged without argument. No one leaves home without something of value and would greatly appreciate knowing that it is safe throughout their journey !

Carmen, Nashville,

ah i loved my globetrotter first case i ever bought i should have bought the company i remember when it was up for sale in the 80s i tried buying another case two years ago and they are a small fourtune sorry to hear about your case.

frank , shanghai , china

Globe-Trotters are great, I take my baby everywhere, so fully understand how you feel! I had a similar experience with the ferocious baggage handling beasts in LA, but got some decent compensation from American Airlines.
Theres life in the old dog yet though - Had it repaired by the good folks at Globe-Trotter. Mine was pretty beat up being very old, but they were able to fix it up, so you should give them a call! I called the store in london +44 20 7529 5950

Hayase Naoto, London, UK

One more reason never to go to America then.

Eric, London, Surrey

Many thanks for publishing your story, one that represents the frustrations of many of our loyal customers and fans of Globe-Trotter who have been subjected to the ruthless and often unnecessary aggression of US baggage handlers/customs. It may come as no surprise that the majority of repairs (if any) to our suit cases derive from airline damage caused whilst traveling to and from the USA.

I would gladly welcome the opportunity for our factory in Hertfordshire to look at your case to determine if we can repair your case as we do understand and appreciate your sentiments towards a personal object that means something to you.

Gary Bott, Globe-Trotter, UK

I travelled the same route via JFK to Mexico going, then via Atlanta on the way back. My ruck sack was delayed both ways, which was major hassle as it had allsorts of necessities in for our travelling (My underpants, for starters). On it's return to my house the lock had been cut off my pack safe. All I can say is that of all the countries we have travelled through, including Communist countries (some years ago now) US Airports have to be some of the rudist, and most hostile, especially JFK. Now I can understand this post 9/11, but this was also the case pre- 9/11. In future I think we will be looking at alternative routes to Mexico where we are not abused in transit.P.S. I have not got a problem with flight security, it has to be done, but there are other ways and means.

PAUL WILSON, SHROPSHIRE, ENGLAND

No need to wait for airport security.
One of a pair of brand new bags appeared to have landed on the runway in Denver sometime before our Continental flight touched down !
The in-line wheels had retracted themselves (along with various pieces of plastic and pop rivets ) into the body of the case a feature the manufacturers had failed to mention

Paul Gurney, Newcastle Emlyn, Wales UK

yikes. i hate to defend the TSA, but as someone doing architectural work at a major US airport - i've spent a lot of time observing the inspection process. the new 'smart' conveyors are pretty brutal, and its actually the baggage handling equipment itself that tears up bags during the automated sorting procedure, rather than the TSA. Every time i visit the EDS facility, whether they see me or naught, i see the TSA having to tape up bags. In fact i think they actually tape more bags then they inspect. i'm sorry to hear about your beloved bag though. i'd have been just as upset.

nadine, Phoenix, az

I simply dread the first time I have to fly and meet face to face with the Homeland Stupidity Gestapo. It has just been reported the watch list has as many names on it as the entire population of North Dakota with an additional twenty thousand names being added each month. One won't know his or her name is on the list until checkin time, there's no way to ascertain WHY the name is on the list and all but impossible to get off the list.

Dennis, Portland OR, The Colonies

The USA Transport Security Administration retain the right to destroy your suitcase without comensation if you travel to / from or transit through the USA, unless you buy a new suitcase that conforms to their regulations I'm down two (£300 ish) worth suitcases at the moment

"Checked baggage is luggage you check in at the ticket counter or curbside. It will not be accessible during your flight. Please refrain from locking your checked baggage or use a TSA Accepted & Recognized Lock. TSA is mandated by Federal law to screen 100% of checked baggage. If your baggage alarms and TSA cannot gain access to your checked bag, unrecognized locks may be broken. TSA will not reimburse passengers for unrecognized locks broken as a result of the security screening process."

So leave your bags open and let the baggage handlers help themselves

Dave, London, UK

Menno, Shrek and Alice - you don't get it. A GT is light, elegant and in normal use practically indestructible. I bought my first in 1972 and in years of travel the only damage has been a knock to a corner-piece which was easily fixed. The one in the picture looks in perfect nick apart from the deliberate damage to the handle and locks . As Philip Sutherland says, a well-scuffed GT with hotel labels from the right hotels is a travel icon. Only a complete Philistine like an American would smash one deliberately.

archie, sydney, Australia

I travelled 2 weeks ago at Heathrow airport with one hand lugguage (Tumi)and a small handbag.
The security guy insist I can only have one piece of lugguage and suggested me to put my handbag into my suitcase. After I slotted it in, he then said my suitcase was slighty oversize and forced me to squeeze it a bit even though there were only 30 mins left before the plane is going to take off! Mine one was a cabin lugguage size carryon! The result? the zip is broken due to all the squeeze, zip and unzip actions.
So there you go, all airport staffs are the same since they are not the one who are travelling

Jacqui, London, UK

I flew into London thismorning from New York with Virgin Atlantic. When I went to pick up my bag from the carousel, it was covered in thick mud and soaking wet, obviously the victim of falling off the bag trailer. Of course the bag fell on the pocketed side of my fabric suitcase and the contents inside where ruined. I find it hard to believe that the airline takes no responsibitly whatsoever and simply request that I go through my travel insurance. At 6 am in the morning, my white trousers caked in mud, a work trip planned for the next day using the same case, I felt brushed off and not at all appeased. I will have to pay a premium to make a claim through my travel insurance, and frankly I dont have the time to follow up a paper trail. Why is it that I, the consumer ,who has paid £1000 for a flight, in which I entrust the airline to my bag, am I dirty, disgruntled, out of pocket? I would have like some sort of apology, or a travel voucher in recognition of their responsibility.

JULIE MILLER-SENSINI, london, UK

I inherited a blue 26" globetrotter from my great aunt. She was quite a traveller, so I imagine it has seen some interesting places. I watched from the plane as it fell off the trolley onto the tarmac at Los Angeles on my first visit to the US, but no damage was done . The handle disintegrated last year as I boarded the Eurostar and I had to carry it like a baby round Paris. I then briefly owned a more modern suitcase but it fell apart in two or three trips. So I've fixed the handle on the globetrotter and it's off to Azerbaijan later this month.

Nat, Cambridge,

Globe Trotters are great, my parents had two identical ones to yours. But they're probably unsuited to multiple excursions through airport baggage handling.

Travel by train and you can spend the whole journey with her by your side. You'll be quite the dapper world traveller, and have less of a carbon footprint too.

Colin, London,

Many years back,before 9/11, and the
new airport regulations, I had flown from
Bombay via Frankfurt via Atlanta to
New Orleons for a conference. As the
flight from Bombay was delayed, I barely
got connected at Frankfurt to Atlanta,the
LF officials promising to get my luggage
on the same flight. They could not, and
at Atlanta I gave the keys to my bags to
the Customs to open the bags on arrival
if required. But the bags were sent to
New Orleions to my Hotel at midnight.
Next morning,the locks were broken
to open the bags. I had to tape the bags
to Chicago to NewJeersey where I
bought new bags costing about $400.
On reaching Bombay, I claimed from
Lufthansa Airlines, who remitted the
amount without fuss. That shows the
character of the airlines.

T.Vijayaraghavan, Dunn Loring, VA,USA

Ah, at least your Globetrotter case was delivered to you and they did wrap it in tape.
A good repair shop or horse paddock (deal with leather) can repair your locks and handle.
Next time its best to have a lock with a loop so you can use the TSA locks or just a plastic tie.Enjoyed your story and can relate.

Rob, Victoria , Canada

From the look of it, your suitcase was probably read for retirement after Turkmenistan. I know the feeling, old shoes and all that. Newer hardsides have recessed hinges, hidden handles, all that good streamlined stuff. And I have seen TSA approved coded locks straps all over Europe, saves much agony. Quit whining, give the Globetrotter a fitting burial. And no, battered suitcases never cut it, or your ancestors and mine would not have traveled with these midsize wooden coffins, when cabin luggage was something that needed two porters. They make fine multi-purpose coffee tables, in a Manhattan apartment.

Menno Aartsen, Washington, DC, Home of the TSA

Well, no offence Waldemar -- but it DOES look like a new bag was long overdue -- that looks like the bags my parents used to buy for me from cheap market stalls when I was at school in the 60's and 70's, made of compounded cardboard, replete with cheap tin locks and flimsy tin seals.

Shrek, Oxford, UK

Boycott USA.

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Nagano

Years ago, each family member had a Globe Trotter. They were wonderful and it is only last year that I decided my two had seen the last of the inside of a plane's hold. When I tried to replace them with new Globe Trotter's I discovered that a second mortgage would have to be taken out, not to mention the extra baggage charges such heavy suitcases would incur. My son arrived back in Nigeria from boarding school one vacation with his GTrotter showing considerable signs of wear and tear. As it had been new just three months before, I asked what had happened to it. It seems his fellow scholars had seen the GTrotter advert showing an elephant standing on a pristine GT and had tried to stand on it all at once - all 15 of them. Nonetheless it survived right through his University days and, for all I know, he may still have it.

I am ashamed to say, I switched to Samsonite some years ago but I still miss my two GT's - not gin tonics!

John Storey, Vientiane, Laos

Gee, did you lock it? Everyone knows that locking a suitcase will cause it to be broken into by the authorities....

Susan, Atla, GA

Come to South Africa to have your suitcase ripped open and your valuable contents stolen by airport security! And stop stupidly comparing American security with fascism.

Spike Hooligan, Tshwane, South Africa

I've never understood why British seem to find it so funny so whine on about things forever and forever. Suitcases wear out - I'm sure even Winston Churchill's wore out eventually. But how convenient to able to complain about Americans AND their insane obsession about security AND their lack of any sort of culture in the same article. I think it's getting old.

Alice, Paris, France

Turkish Airlines Istanbul - Karachi; claim form given out, submitted ............. six years later ...?

A Salmon, Damascus, Syria

When will people realise that there is no point in locking a case?
My lock has been cut off twice in Heathrow and once in Honolulu.

If you want to make sure you know if someone has been inside have it shrink wrapped or just put on a cable tie.

maurice, Papamoa, N Zealand

Your correspondent probably locked it which is not allowed in the USA so security probably had to break it open. Think yourself lucky you got it back at all & pay attention to present day security rules.

ian bradshaw, dover, pa,usa

I feel with you, my globetrotter suitcase was /is at least 42 years old, brought when I was sent to prep school and been travelling around the world with me every year and surviving everything; until last year upon a trip to Bogota, Colombia where I was to lecture at a university, I had to change planes at Houston Texas. Here they wanted to inspected the case, which unlocked but secured with a leather belt, fell into the hands of two security officers, who forced me to stand at a yards distance, watching while they attacked the loved and beloved suitcase with a crowbar. Stand there, restrained by the one of the security officers, and unheeding to my gentle but increasingly desperate pleas in my best Cambridge English, they proceeded to break it open, totally unnecessary, an act of terrorism called and defended in the name of protection. But what where they protecting their right to unhindered violence, unhindered terror. The suitcase is repaired and is not again travelling to the US.

Gordon Vincenti, Odder, Denmark

Mine is sitting upstairs right now, being filled for my holiday driving across France. My heart bleeds for you; have you seen the prices now? Mine is about 20 years old and cost £76. There are 3 on eBay at the moment; suggest you try there, although it won't be your old friend. There is a shop in my local village where a chap mends leather cases, etc. I know it's not leather, but might be worth a try from an old-fashioned cobbler. He's just fixed a leather suitcase for me for only £30.

Lynn Taylor, Salisbury, Wilts

It happened in Zurich. My strong and faithful case tumbled out 20 minutes after the rest had been cleared with travel locks broken and pilfering from external compartments and signs of tampering with the case's main zip. An unpleasant experience even though the loss was mainly confined to archaeology books on Tunisia. Airline and airport officials were polite but uninterested in the details, and the same with the airline's customer service office contacted by phone from the hotel. Evidently luggage assault and minor theft is not worth investigating - even for airport security or staff discipline purposes.

Jane, Australia,

Dear Sir,
I do understand the attachment to a fantastic, beloved suitcase. That is why I never lock my checked baggage and I typically ship items that I gather on my trips rather than deal with airport security. That way nothing looks strange.
The shipped items may take a while to reach but then it's just happy anticipation until they arrive.
RIP.

Connie, Grand Junction, Colorado

You're actually quite lucky. 16 years in Saudi Arabia plus a little globe-trotting for 10 years. A not too brief debagging in Tel Aviv, where do they find them? and all travelling on a GB passport. An Englishman, a man-of-Kent (related to John Kemp Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury), with a 'Muslim' name (by deed poll). The Americans loved that! I have reverted to my given name now - so much safer and not just for my suitcase!

Tariq, ashford,

If you are traveling from or transiting through the United States it is advisable to buy a TSA [Transport Security Administration] approved lock to secure your case. This way, the TSA can open it without breaking the case.

Aditya, Guildford,

I too have a Globetrotter. Brilliant. Coverred in labels from hotels all over the planet. I've taken it out of service because I haven't wanted it ruined and it sits quietly on its mat at home. A design icon. Sorry to hear about the death of yours, mate.

Philip Sutherland, Sydney, Australia

On my return to the UK we flew
via Las Vegas on Virgin Airlines. Standing in check in queue for 3 hours Virgin staff nor the American air port advised passengers to unlock suitcases, or buy a American lock. no signs to advise passengers to unlock their cases. My expensive case was locked according to insurance requirements. I checked in and flew back to the UK. I arrived at Gatwick I found my suitcase had been forced open, the locks broken beyond repair. Initially I thought "theft" but there was no where to go through the case so took it home and began going through the damage. There was no theft. a letter from the American security oafs saying they had broken my lock to inspect my case. Was I fuming. I phoned them in the USA and was given an email address to write to. i have been corresponding with them since Oct 2006 about replacing my case but all I have had was sarcasim and disinterest. I will never travel to USA again! It is an unfriendly suspicious country.

Gill Rowe, Cheltenham, GLOS

Followig a bad internet booking where we flew from from La Gardia to Fort Myers after arriving at Newark (taxi cost $150) I checked in our hard Delsey suitcase. On arriving at Fort Myers the case was secured by two strips of tape, the locks had been smashed open to inspect the case. Attached to the case's handle 2" from the lock was the key to the lock. Only a little common sense to realise what the key was for. So now we have a nice case with broken locks.

Peter Ferris, Guernsey, UK