KJC

I usually lock my checked luggage to prevent it from popping open somewhere along the way. The flimsy locks will not prevent some airline CEO from stealing my stuff if he wants, but I do worry abt. it popping open.

Anyway, now that all checked luggage is being screened, I guess this is no longer a good idea. I was told before that if they wanted to examine my luggage that they would page me in the terminal and ask me to open it myself. Recently however I heard a news report that they will just rip it open, and if your suitcase is damaged in the process, you're just plain SOL. Advice?

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The white zones are for the immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. No parking!

Clip

They will break your lock in the US if they need to search your checked luggage -- and they won't page you. This is primarily because MOST of the new explosive detection machines are located in the bowels of the airports, and contacting every person whose bag is searched would cause enormous delays and is not practical. (These machines have high false-alarm rates, and false alarms are confirmed only by a hand search of the offending item.) IF they break your lock and search your bag, they are SUPPOSED to place a card inside that indicates that a search has been conducted. They also are SUPPOSED to place a plastic lock on the bag as a replacement. Locks are not being distributed to everyone. I highly recommended not locking your bag. Just use a plastic tie through the zipper holes. That will hold the zippers and provide a way indicate whether your bag has been opened.

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Jet Delta's Big Flies

KJC

Thanks Clip, Westjetter.

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The white zones are for the immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. No parking!

AASuper80

Let us not forget this is the same agency who feel that they need to check a babies diaper for explosives. The same agency that feels that an extended screening of 80 year grandmother on the premise of secruity. I don't know about you but I am at a point where I feed up with flying.

Terrorist 1 the American public 0

Jeremy

Kevin,
Southwest in SMF will screen and search your bags in front of the ticket counter in full view if needed, so you won't have to worry there.
As for other places and airlines, I do not know.

You all heard what TSA stands for?

Thousands
Standing
Around

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One Nation under God

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth

Clip

WJ,

Thanks for posting the "official" version of exactly what I said. "Will provide" is a lot different than distributing to everyone.

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Jet Delta's Big Flies

Eddy Two

Now, now cupcake.

I never ever lock my bags when I travel. I never have done. If I were to travel to some really really odd place, like for example Pnom Penh in Cambodia (plucked that one from the sky), I think I WOULD lock the bag as those are the airport staff you need to watch.

Other than that, I never do. I have only had my bag searched ONCE, to my knowledge. This was at Auckland Airport and, unfortuantely, the bag contained lots of sex toys and chocolate breasts...... It's a long story.