My fingernail clippers were confiscated out of my carryon this summer by security. Can't imagine that toenail clippers would be less likely to be.

It's the government that put this practice into effect, not the airlines. Whatever happened to our rights-this policy came into effect immediately and so suddenly. Is this a democracy or dictatorship?

Since I am flying out to Europe in a few days, I need to clarify this once and for all:<BR><BR>Is my luggage expected to be inspected right there while I check in? <BR><BR>Is it supposed to be checked manually? Or put into the X-Ray machine? <BR><BR>When do I have a chance to use those plastic tie strips, AFTER the inspection? <BR><BR>And is there any reason for those ties to be broken by security again?<BR><BR>'Cause otherwise why can't I use a regular LOCK, instead of the plastic tie. if I put it on my luggage after the inspection?<BR><BR>If you use the Plastic tie before check-in, and don't see your luggage any more before the flight, then upon arrival, if the plastic tie is broken, it might have been broken by security OR by a thief...<BR><BR>Am I missing something here?<BR>

Everyone except Frank is concerned about things being stolen from their luggage. I agree with Frank. The main worry for me is having drugs and/or other illegal goods put in my luggage after I have checked it in. You can insure against your goods being stolen, but you can't insure against having illegal goods stashed in your luggage. And, as Frank has pointed out, the consequences can be disastrous.

Jack, the drug issue is another drawback of this idiotic policy. I'm sure the same thing can occur with explosives as well.

Frank and Jack<BR><BR>Come on, how realistic is it that someone would hide drugs in your luggage? You might have a worry if you have a deranged ex-spouse who works as an airlines baggage handler. Otherwise this is just a silly scenario. And please spare us the urban legend classic opening line: &quot;this really happened to a friend of a friend of mine...&quot;!

Silly, go talk to whoever it was who designed those screening questions one gets asked at airports: &quot;Did you pack your bags yourself? Have you left your bags unaccompanied at any time while in the airport? Are you carrying gifts for anyone?&quot; etc. etc. I take those questions seriously, if only because the people asking them do. <BR><BR>

Jane<BR><BR>Nothing critical of you but I think that you misunderstood. They are talking about someone planting drugs AFTER you check your baggage in at the airport.<BR><BR>There is a possibility that a bomber would do this because they don't care about retrieving the luggage at the other end. <BR><BR>A smuggler planting drugs or other illegal goods, however, would have a lot of unnecessary trouble getting your bag after arrival (they would presumably have to let you pick up the bag and carry through customs) so it is just not a realistic scenario.<BR><BR>Sorry to give this silly scenario more bandwidth than it deserves.

ron,<BR><BR>Under the new procedures, your baggage will be x-rayed after you check in. If a positive reading is indicated they will open your bags (not in your presence). If your bag is locked, they will break the lock (and will not be responsible for damages). They will then put a note inside indicating that your bag was opened for inspection, and place a seal on it.<BR><BR>My concern is with the bags which do not need to be opened for inspection. If we leave them unlocked as requested, they will remain that way until you pick them up at your destination. If your luggage can be secured with a cable tie that will help, but most hard sided luggage with built in combination locks cannot be secured in that manner.

I might not have made it clearly, but my point was simply that the questions indicate the authorities are concerned about problems related to baggage tampering. <BR><BR>I accept that you're not worried, but in fairness I doubt you have any more evidence that it doesn't happen, than I do that it does. Ergo, how much bandwidth the problem deserves is a subjective consideration. <BR><BR><BR><BR>