Here is part of a post from a friend in SoCal, which surprised me, as I hadn't heard of this before, even HERE!

"When I flew up to Portland when my friend was dying I had to leave the lock off my luggage! Yes! Either that or I had to buy a lock that they could open up in the luggage area for "security reasons" so I don't carry anything of value in my luggage..."

It was bad enough when the luggage handlers were opening luggage & pilfering stuff. Now they have a license to do it?

Is this insane or am I?

Sue

Yes, it's true. You can't lock luggage. I travel frequently and know this. You can use a TSA approved lock - for which they have a master key.

My stuff has been pilfered in the past, and I know of others who have had their stuff taken.

There are only 2 kinds of luggage: Carry-on and Lost. Make your choice.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. If you want it there where you get there, Fedex it to yourself.

[color:"red"]DO NOT TRUST THE TSA WITH YOUR STUFF. [/color]

Yup. Works great. Lightens the load, and you can skip the baggage claim area.

I still check a small bag, though. Here's why:

I want my knife back as soon as I get off the plane. I've been hiding an
inexpensive folder along with duplicates of my EDC in my checked bag.

Hiding? Yup. For example, the knife goes into the "knee" area of the folded
jeans. Sure, it'll show up on xray, but you likely won't see / feel it if you just
do a quick "unzip and flip" on the bag to see what goodies might be in there.

Can they get my knife? Sure. But I'm betting (hoping) that, if nothing else
causes a genuine red flag on the suit case, it's just easier for them to
look in another bag than spend time trying to find something in mine.

It's no substitute for FedExing your good stuff ahead of you, though. But
I do like walking out of the airport with my EDC in my pockets.

There is an alternative. The rules for checked luggage are different if you have a properly declared handgun in your suitcase. The TSA baggage screeners will check your bag before you leave and it must be locked in transit. The rules relating to firearms in checked baggage require that neither the airline nor TSA have the keys or combination(s) to the locks. The suitcase itself can generally (depends on the specific airline) be softsided as long as the handgun is in a hardcase inside the suitcase.

So if you don't want someone snooping through your bags when you're not there, travel with a (properly declared) firearm in your checked baggage. You can get more info on this topic by checking with your airline, or by going to the TSA web site (TSA Firearms and Ammunition) or by doing some reading on the 'packing.org' web site.

This course of action is not for everyone, but when I travel I always carry a handgun of some sort. I don't go to places where I'm not allowed to protect myself. I may only be able to have it in the Jeep or my hotel room, but that's better than nothing.

Dennis

Gun laws vary waaaay too much for me to try it with a real gun.

I wonder if a replica would work? I mean, the baggage people arent going to make
sure it actually fires before checking it, right? Something that looks and feels real,
but doesn't count as a gun under any law. Then I wouldn't have to worry about
transporting it when I got where I'm going.

Martin is right, working for the TSA is a license to steal ... selectively, of course. It's happened to me, more than once.

But this last trip, out of the country, NOTHING was taken coming or going. The only difference was that in each case was a laminated tag with the words, "All Contents of This Suitcase Were Inventoried and Photographed Prior To Departure."

Of course, it could just be a conincidence ...

I have only traveled with a handgun once. TSA did not go through my bag before I could leave the check in counter. The only other person present when I checked and declared my handgun was the cashier at the ticket counter. The TSA didn't get a chance to look at my bag until after I left.


I don't see how traveling with a handgun keeps the TSA from going through your stuff. They can't get into your pistol case, but they can still go through your bag.


Robert

Maybe I am lucky or just plain wierd, but I have never had anything taken from my checked baggage. I have never heard of any of my friends or family having anything taken either. Both my dad and dad in law are constantly on the go and fly all the time, sometimes wqith tickets at the last minute. They have never had anything taken out of their bags.

I guess we are a lucky family, and I have knocked on my head to luck for my future flying!

Garrett

You can also secure baggage with plastic tie wraps used by electricians. TSA can still snip them and search through bags, but you don't have to go out and purchase approved locks. I use brightly colored wraps which aid in Identifying luggage at baggage claim. It's also a quick indicator if my bag has been searched as they are not likley to have the neon organe or green i use when they replace the tie wraps, which they are required to do.

Same here. Never happened to me or anyone I know either.

I guess I have been lucky, all of my post 911 trips to Ecuador involve transporting large quantities of medical supplies/equipment, medications, and I always pack a PSK of some type in each check-in duffel bag. To date, I have had no problems with pilferage or lost luggage.

Pete

I do this too -- I use boring black cable ties, but they're the really long ones so that it's obvious when the TSA has opened my stuff. BTW, Susan, I think the "no locks" thing has been going on for at least a year or longer. (The only thing is that now I have to remember to keep something in my carry-on -- like heavy-duty nail clippers -- to cut off the cable ties at my destination ... I don't want to dull my pocket-knife by sawing at that plastic!)

Uh, aren't those a no-no now? Anything you can open a cable tie with could be a weapon.

The last time I flew I used cable ties/zip ties to hold the zippers shut. They were actually in place when I got my luggage. I also used some more ties to attach my Spyderco to a D ring inside the luggage. It isn't that hard to break the ties if you use the small ones. None of this is real security, but it reminds the handlers that my luggage couldn't accidentally open itself.

i haven't flow for awhile, but i thing i will will let my luggage be sealed in plastic. Or get numberd luggage seals, doubt anyone just happens to have the same seal with the same number..

Nah, nail clippers are supposed to be permitted -- see the TSA list.

Now that is the work of a thinking man!

I have yet to fly anywhere since 9/11, but I'm working on a plan based on what others have said and on what I want. Here it is:

1. Carry-on underseat bag with migraine meds and other medical essentials such as Mylanta, Exedrin, earplugs, etc.
2. Small carry-on for bin-storage. This holds a day or two worth of clothes and other small items.
3. Medium carry-on to be checked. This will hold clothing and an inexpensive version of my EDC, including easily replaceable Swiss Armys and such.
4. Another medium (duffle?) bag for FedEx-ing. This will hold the rest of my stuff and my full-bore EDC.

Bags 3 and 4 above are likely to be small to medium carry-on types. I'd rather not combine them into one larger, more unwieldy bag.

-- Craig

Flying has returned to the miserable, crowded, delay-ridden level of pre 9/11. In the year 2004, I logged 32 round trips from Newark to San Fransicso, and about 12 other trips to other locations. This is what I'd call a "moderate" travel year. In that time I learned quite a bit about carry-on versus lost (or, as some prefer to call it "checked" bags). First of all, airport security is barely doing anything.
Case in point: on one of the trips to SFO, my son "helped" me pack by putting a 4" steak knife in my carry on bag without my knowledge.
I passed through the first level of security, nobody noticed the knife. For some reason, I had to exit the secure area (I think I forgot something on the concourse), and go through security again. Again, no knife. When I got to the gate I was randomly selected for a bag search at the gate, and they STILL didn't find the knife. I found the knife, tucked into an interior pouch, when I got to SFO and unpacked.

I've decided that for trips that would take 6 hours or less to drive, it's just not worth the hassle of flying. For me, this includes trips to DC, Boston, NY, Pittsburgh and a few other locations.

And never check your bags.

You're only allowed 1 carry on now. That's why you'd best wear an e-vest for you proposed under-seat items.

I have an E-Vest, actually.

I haven't flown because I am reluctant to pay exorbitant prices to be treated like a criminal before flying, then treated like a steerage passanger during the flight.

Doesn't make sense to me. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Why pay good money to be treated badly?

-- Craig

Wonderful. Any more good news? <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />



I have heard that one quite a few times now. I'd FedEx 'em. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

-- Craig

I've used the zip ties too. Not to prevent, but to see if someones been messing with the bag. When the TSA opens it up, they put a note in it and their seal on it. I've also used the large plastic bags over my suitcase too. I figure that the handlers are going to go after easier targets. But the bottom line is don't put anything in your bags you don't mind losing. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

The TSA was doing their "bag checks" in plain sight of the checkin counter on the last flight I was on. They were taking every bag, opening it, and putting their little note in there. Near as I could tell, they were doing no actual searching. Although I didn't need any convincing, I'm now even more sure that it's all just for show.