Question re:baggage searches when flying to USA

jezza574

Hi

Wonder if somebody might be able to give a novice traveller some guidance?

Flying out to the States on Thursday with United Airlines and have been told by a friend at work that random luggage searches can be carried out after you've checked your bags in, and that this means you shouldn't lock your bags but use cable ties or something similar instead.

Anybody got any recent experience on this as I don't really want to have to leave my main checked in luggage unlocked.

Cheers

Toronto

My daughter and her freinds flew to New York at Easter and were allowed to lock luggage on the way there but on leaving the US they were told that baggage shouldn't be locked. All her luggage arrived back in one peice with nothing missing thank godness, but it was quite worrying. Hope you have a good trip.

alanrowell

If you lock it, the locks will be broken.

You can get TSA approved locks BUT the TSA folk doing the checks can't be bothered to get the skeleton keys so the locks get broken anyway.

Stick to cable ties just to stop casual theft & if there is a search of your bag they'll be a little note put into it saying "we searched your bag, have a nice day".

alanrowell

Wait until you have to do the Shoe Carnival and don't be surprised if a bra search occurs.

blindman

The biggest problem with the USA Homeland security is the inconsistencies and lacksadasical staff (TSA) that 'police' it.

A couple of items in my bag looked suspect so it was searched. I was allowed to take a corkscrew on board but my digital camera was given a thorough 'bomb' test.
Depending on the paranoia at the airport

1 Luggage should not be locked, so don't pack anything valuable in it:-cable ties a good idea.

2 You may have to take your shoes off and put them through the machine.
so make sure you've no embarrasing hosiery !

3 You MAY get a body search which can be a bit personal -if you 'look the type' (Usually single young male ??)

4 You are now NOT allowed lighters or matches in hold or hand luggage.

Basically, turn up at the gate early and just relax, these guys are doing a job (albeit at times very badly) but causing a fuss WILL get you into trouble.

Have a good trip.

nelly_2

Dont have any sharp objects in your hand lugage or pockets except a pen.

My experiance of them is they are polite and doing an important job.

I got picked out by random flying out of chicago last year they just looked through my pockets hand lugage and asked a few questions, mainly about where id been satying nothing heavy just routine stuff.

They do search stuff, leaving your lugage unlocked is not a big deal its generally only clothes, and if they do get nicked youll quickly learn that in the US you can replace them for about a 3rd of the price you payed here

Keep all valuebles in your hand lugage