Kim - Take your Rx and when the medication starts to work let us know.<BR><BR>Steve made a valid point and admitted when he was in error. Do the same.<BR><BR>x

<BR>Kim<BR><BR>I am having a nice day. Thanks for your thoughtfulnes, care and compassion.<BR><BR>Steve

just as important are the new luggage weight restrictions on AA. 40 lbs for domestic flights if you have to connect to get where you are going. Flights to the Caribbean remain at 70. Surcharge of bags 50 - 70 lbs is $50.

Uh, sorry Steve, but that last post from &quot;Kim&quot; was not me but obviously someone using my name. In any event, you missed the point. Just like &quot;I Wonder&quot;, I was taking offence only to your insane comment re third world countries. And I see that you have admitted that you were wrong which is a good thing.

I have been reading this thread and was a little confused, so I asked a friend who is one of the new Federal employess at O'Hare. Here's the skinny. The new screening procedures are to go into effect on Dec 31, but some airports have asked for an extension. When you get to the counter your checked bags will be placed on a CTX machine. This takes pictures from the bottom of the bag and does horizontal slice pictures (between 4 and 16). If there is a questionable object, ie., anything over 12 ounces, or metal, or even a stack of books, your suitcase will be opened. This will happen at the counter. You will walk with your bag(s) throughout the whole process. If there is something questionable, your bag will be opened and hand inspected. The bag will also go through a ETD machine which detects explosives. These machines are very sensitive, to the extent that if you took a nitroglycerine pill and then picked up your bag, you would be stopped. If you fail the ETD test, the police will be automatically called. He suggested that you not stack books, and pack all shoes on the top of the suitcase. Carry-ons will be going through the same procedures we have all been used to. The deal is that you will be walking with your bags throughout this whole inspection. Once you pass the inspection, you can lock your bag. I use combination locks, not keys, so you can simply ask the inspectors to spin the combo. Hope this answers some of your questions. We're going to our place in Cayman on Jan 5th. Don't know what will happen on our way back through Miami.<BR><BR>

That may be true in some airports, but there will be airports where they have to scan your luggage away from the counter and you won't be there so they will have to open it without you.

Thanks Steve for your apology. <BR>I never put anything valuable anymore in my checked luggage. Actually,I try just to limit myself to carryon. When my lock was cut in Miami, it was my old carryon that I had checked, and had my valuables in my new carryon that I carried. I suppose they thought hat someone had checked their carryon, so it must have good stuff in it. To their surprise I had everything with me. I have gotten into using the hotel's laundry services, so I don't carry that much clothes, makes for a lighter load!<BR>They are recommending the use of cable ties instead of locks, so if they have to open your luggage, they can just cut the ties. Can't the thieving baggage handlers cut the ties too? Just keep your valuables in your carryon, that's the best way I guess.

There must be someone out there who could straighten this all out for travellers. Many of us are travelling in the next few days and would like the information. My local news did a report this AM on airport security and NEVER mention to lock or unlock suitcases. I don't think the process is very clear to anyone.