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.