TSA Bag Search

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Twentyyears

Hers another question re this- we always use the TSA locks but recently we have still had them cut rather than opened and put back on- they are none to cheap so I am wondering whether to buy cheap non TSA and let them cut them next time?

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I think Home Bargains do a cheap range that would be ok for you ? I don't lock mine but guess that's a wee bit risky!

Jo

[Guest]

Originally Posted by toonarmani

My TSA lock was missing and case ransacked (only noticed at the hotel). No note in the case either :angry:

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Hey that's not good at all. That could be baggage handlers rather than TSA? Was anything missing? I hope not.
Hope that doesn't happen often

Jo

[justus2again]

usually 1 or more on most of our trips have been searched dont know what we put in to make them i thought it was just random x

[Kraken]

Basically they are looking for anything that looks suspicious (obviously). So if you pack all your charger leads into a case with your stash of sauces / candles (organic material on x-ray) it can look like a lot of bottles of liquid / organic material of unknown type, connected by wires. Expect that bag to get opened. I have had my bags containing things like BBQ sauce / large supply of suntan cream [bringing it back for a friend] opened. Have never had the bag full of just dirty laundry opened though.

Coffee has been mentioned above - if the coffee pouches were sealed in foil, this can be detected as an attempt to hide something from x-ray, so again expect a closer look to be taken.

I doubt there is very much (if any) random element to the bag searches, despite what the flyer they put in your bag says. The TSA have to screen every checked bag that wants to depart from an US airport, be it on a domestic or international flight. Given the sheer volume of bags they screen, they don't have the resources to do much - if any - random screening. If your bag gets opened, it's 99.99% triggered an alarm of some sort on the x-ray / automated screening system.

[Cocobean121]

Ours get searched every time, we must be a dodgy lot!

We do bring big bottles of Jack Daniels BBQ sauce back and various other foods!

My DS always takes an electric fan with him, he can't sleep without one! We bought one in Walmart after a 2am dash on the second night (we couldn't sleep anyway) on our first trip and he takes it back every time we go. TSA must think we are a bit mad.

[emmabanana]

Ours get searched each time too, but we always bring back sauces, rubs & cans of drink.

[tspill]

Ours have been checked maybe 8 times now. One time they cracked the lock and they didn't close the zips properly and we lost a lot of stuff. Nothing expensive - stuff must have just fallen out.

[allycat228]

Mine got checked last time i came back but then everything was so tightly packed i am not surprised, it even included a brand new iPad which really should of been in my hand luggage nothing broken or lost

[Reereef]

Ours get checked all the time. I expect it now and make sure I launder all our 'delicates' before we come home

[Raggylisa]

One of mine was checked but I believe it was my dd's newly acquired pin collection attached to a lanyard that might of looked a tad strange on the X-ray! Lol