Alice

You CAN have your bags searched in your presence, quite easily: take a carryon bag only. Then inspectors don't have to cut off locks, go thru your things without you seeing what is being done.

MHS

Sorry, Alice, but taking only a carry-on for 2-3 weeks in Europe is simply not practical for most of us, who like to occasional wear something different, or clean &amp; have a change of good walking shoes. <BR>On a practical note, if everyone did that, there would really be fights over the limited on-board storage bins.<BR>Glad I'm not the only one concerned about &quot;bad stuff&quot; being inserted into my luggage for smuggling.<BR>To repeat my original question, which no one has answered:<BR>Guess I'm very very naive, but I thought that on international flights after the Scotland crash, ALL check-through bags were x-rayed. &amp; that that was why we were asked to be at airport 2 hrs prior to flight. Bags didn't need to be left unlocked then. So why is any new procedure necessary now? <BR>... or, was our Government lying to us?<BR><BR>Thanks, and this is Not a flame to you, Alice, or anyone.

Syrin

Erin--<BR><BR>CNN's travel section has an article that anwers your questions. Basically, not all airports scanned or x-rayed all bags prior to September 11. Now they are required to do so, and to check further (by hand, bomb sniffing dog or whatever) anything unusual. At least, that's my understanding of it. <BR>

Howard

Two questions for all those people who are worried that there are people out there who will plant contraband and bombs in luggage: <BR>1. Didn't you worry about these things before security was tightened?<BR>2. Do you think a locked suitcase prevents theft and other crimes?

Mmmm

This may sound horrible, but it is what I have come to believe over the years. I always assume someone will be in my suitcases at sometime without my permission. I had some junk jewelery stolen out of a suitcase once, I have received my suitcases that have obviously been rummaged through, and I have had luggage lost by the airlines. I consider carefully what I pack thinking that I may never see it again. It may not be right, but it's what I have come to expect. If you want to keep it carry it on.

Debbie

I find it very disconcerting that the only solution to this dilemma is &quot;carry it on&quot;. It seems that every time I turn around, the airlines are shrinking the size of the allowable carryon. <BR>Even if I were a size 2, I don't think I could fit 2 weeks worth of clothes &amp; shoes for Irish weather, into a 9x14x18 bag. ( Aer Lingus's cabin luggage limit) And besides - this now means that any souveniers (sp?) have to be in your carryon if you want to see them once you get home. <BR><BR>No - I did not think my $2.47 locks were really keeping me secure, but I did feel that at least I did what I could to keep my things safe. and I wasn't inviting people to rummage through my belongings. <BR><BR>Now, it appears that on ANY flight in the US, luggage is open season. <BR><BR>Security is one thing, but I seriously think, that with all the new fees, the reduction of Carryon size, and now &quot; please don't lock your luggage&quot; , the airline industry is in jeopardy of losing a large number of passengers, who find all this, just too much , or too frightening to deal with. <BR><BR>I will know better for myself after my trip in spring - I do know that now I will have to have a DETAILED list of everything I put into my suitcase so that I can verify that nothing is missing when I open it.

Howard

I guess I must be a masochist:<BR>1. I'm not happy about a limited leg room in a plane (I'm 6'), but it won't stop me from flying to Europe.<BR>2. I'm not happy about the possibility of my luggage being opened and searched, but it won't stop me from flying to Europe.<BR>3. I'm not happy about having to get to the airport earlier because of security procedures, but it won't stop me from flying to Europe.<BR>Hell, they are still small prices to pay for the joy that awaits me at my destination.

Santa Chiara

Okay. What are zip ties? I am flying back to Europe this week, and I arrived before the new procedure went into effect. But I am totally lost as to what zip ties are.

xxx

Howard, when was all this pre-publicity done? No one I know knew about this new security thing until it was announced on the news around the holidays. It's all b.s.

JOdy

santa chiara..<BR><BR>they are strips of hard plastic(?) with a little barrel on one end. when you insert the other end into the barrel and pull it together, they can't be seperated , they have to be cut off. <BR><BR>we use numbered security ones where I work , so even if someone would remove and replace them with the same kind we can still tell if security has been breaached.

debbie

Santa Chiara - <BR><BR>Zip ties are also known as Cable ties. <BR>One end is inserted into a cube shape on the other end and you can tighten but it will not come off until it is cut off. <BR>You can pick a package of them up for a dollar or two at any hardware or home improvement store.

Just

How do you cut them off when you get to your destination, if you can't carry scissors or anything sharp in your carry-on? (That's a serious question -- maybe I'm unusually dense, but I can't figure it out.)

Erin

We put a pair of finger nail clippers in the outside pocket of the suitcase to clip the zip ties off.

Debbie

<BR><BR>Nope - not a dumb question. It must have been asked a lot , because even on the TSA website, they refer to the fact you can take blunt nose scissors on the plane now in your carryon. Basically the ones you give your 1st grader.

Debbie

<BR>one more thought. <BR>Even if you don't use Cable ties, you probably should bring along either blunt scissors or nail clippers. If TSA breaks into your bag, you will need a way to cut off the cable tie they put on it.

Eva

I know this probably sounds like a minor thing, but what really upsets me about someone opening my suitcase and rummaging through it is - it takes some doing to pack a 22&quot; suitcase for three weeks of travel and I have finally gotten it down to a fine art. I doubt very seriously if someone opened my bag and searched it, that they could get all the stuff back in. I wonder what they would do then. I am also a little concerned about something finding it's way into my opened bag that I would have a hard time denying I put there.

LJ

In response to Eva specifically, and this conversation in general, this just makes me happier than ever that I learned on this forum about the wonders of the ziplock bag method of packing.I absolutely agree with Howard, the small hassle is all worthwhile to get to see the world beyond our shores. Baggage packed in ziplock bags will not only arrive tidier, it also serves the purposes of the security inspectors very well, while protecting your possessions. They can see, at a glance, what you've packed without rummaging through every nook and cranny.

Ryn

Remember, the government now handles security, but the airlines still run the bag rooms. Federal security checks bags going down to the bag rooms, but not those coming out, and not those coming off planes at their final destination.<BR><BR>Pilferage happened before 9/11, and I have no reason to believe it has magically stopped now. If the tie that was on when my bag was checked isn't there when I claim the bag, there had better be a notice inside the bag to explain why not.<BR>

mary kay

Just a thought: Why not make a list of the contents of your checked luggage before your trip. Put it in an envelope ant mail it to yourself. Then after the trip, if anything is missing you'll have the list to prove contents. You'll have to take the unopened envelope to the airline with you. I would think this would keep the airlines from saying you made up a list after the fact. Or you could photograph the contents ahead of time and keep the photo.<BR><BR>Mary Kay

ttrainz

I know that it is not comforting imagining that something could be taken from your luggage (or even added to it!) once it is no longer in your sight at the airport.<BR>But in reality, this has always been the case because there is no lock on a suitcase that is un-openable if some one really wants to get into the suitcase.<BR>