Method and apparatus for preventing luggage mishandling in public transportation systems

A method of protecting luggage from tampering includes steps of receiving a piece of luggage at a baggage check-in station, and encoding passenger and routing information at the baggage check-in station onto an identification tag. The identification tag is attached to the piece of luggage. The piece of luggage is placed on a baggage conveyor and conveyed to a security inspection station inside a secure area that excludes all unauthorized s personnel. The piece of luggage is conveyed on the baggage conveyor to a scanning station to detect and decode the passenger and routing information on the identification tag. The piece of luggage is conveyed on the baggage conveyor to a wrapping station. When an identification tag is detected, the method continues from step, otherwise from step. When the identification tag indicates that the piece of luggage is to be wrapped, the method continues from step, otherwise from step. The piece of luggage is wrapped automatically. The piece of luggage is conveyed through the wrapping station to a baggage receiving station.