My local airport does a hand inspection of checked luggage under my nose. Then TSA puts on the wire tie that I give the agent.

They definitely do not open the luggage every time. I have flown with shrink wrap and it has not been disturbed. Of course, they can cut it if they want to but so far this has not happened to me.

I have gotten used to the idea that my suitcase is an open book :-)
available for anyone who wants to look in it, to do so, when it is out of my hands.

I use either kitchen twist ties, plastic cable ties, or tiny padlocks, perfectly well expecting any or all of these may be cut off.

Traveling between US/Mexico lately I get a TSA inspection letter every trip and there's nothing special or suspicious about my cheap 24" roller that's been to a resort destination.

YEARS ago - I remember traveling back from Mexico after my geology field camp. I had taken along a small (about a 12 can size) Igloo cooler. During our 6 week camp, I used to cooler in my dorm room to keep cokes and beer cold. But on the way home, it was a great, sturdy way of bringing back all the rocks I had collected.

There were about 8 of us flying back to New Orleans (the rest drove) and for some reason I was the first to go thru the customs line.

Anyway - the guy picked up the cooler figuring it would be empty. Of course, it wasn't. It was, in fact, quite heavy. He laughed and said - "What's in here - rocks?" And of course, I said "Yes!"

Well, the guy looked at me (all 5 feet tall and 95 pounds!) like I was nuts. Then he opened the cooler - and sure enough......ROCKS!

We were all quite obviously traveling as a group ....so he asked if the rest ALSO had rocks in their bags. Everyone said "yes."

The poor man - he just shook his head.....and waived us all thru. :)

sorry - for some reason this thread brought back that memory......slightly off-topic but it was quite amusing at the time!!!!

Grcxx3

Brought back memories of my father. He was a geography teacher and we moved to Canada (from Australia) where he did a lot of geology courses. We traveled all over the US, Mexico and Canada during the school vacations where he took 100s and 100s of slides of rocks. In one summer, he had 3 photos of the family. Of course, his slide shows were a great hit (not!). We also ended up with a rock collection. Well before the pet rock fad.

BTW I always use cable ties and have never had any probs.