Passengers to Europe, please be warned. I boarded a plane on January 8, Austin to Houston to Paris. This was in the first few days of the new "open and check your luggage." As a result of these new security measures I am now missing a brand new portable CD player.

The new security is not going to stop people from stealing.

I should have added that I travel between the U.S. and Europe at least four times a year and intraEurope six to eight times a year. I have done so for the past four years. Since 1985, I have also traveled at least once a year to Europe as well as Asia and South America, and this is the first time I have ever had anything stolen out of my luggage.

Interesting comment, Santa Chiara. Did you have to lock your suitcases in the Orient? I assume you did: I mean, those movies about drug possession on innocent people is scary. What was the airline policy when you came back to the USA? Did you have to keep them unlocked when you left France? How was customs in Paris? Did you breeze through or were there policemen and dogs sniffing the bags?<BR>

The point is that with the new regulations, when you check in IN the United States, your bags are now put through an X-ray machine. I also had a notice in my bag that it had been opened. You have to leave your bags unlocked. This was in Austin. I checked my bags through, so I don't know what happened in Houston and Paris.<BR><BR>I have had my bags opened before, and I have had the locks broken, but nothing ever stolen. <BR><BR>When I have returned to the U.S., I have never had to unlock my bags. <BR><BR>

I realize that. But did you encounter any more stringent customs security when you entered France? Were there CRS or gendarmes with sniffer dogs for contraband, etc. and/or the occasional machine gun?

No, EyeSpy, entrance into France, and subsequently into Italy, was not anymore unusual. The only thing "unusual" was the behavior in the United States. I won't even go into merely trying to get through security in Austin. I will only say that if you ever saw the Saturday Night Live skit about 20 years ago where they frisked and threw a little old nun against the wall while armed terrorists went through security, then you will know how I felt. <BR><BR>The injury added to the insult was having something stolen. I would have carried the damn thing on, but between carry-on regulations and having baggage lost, every ounce counts. I have even shipped personal items, at considerable expense, so that I wouldn't be hassled and to meet carry-on regulations.

Why would you ever put something that you valued in checked luggage? I never did that before Homeland Security.

I realize that. But did you encounter any more stringent customs security when you entered France? Were there CRS or gendarmes with sniffer dogs for contraband, etc. and/or the occasional machine gun?

<BR><BR>Went out a couple of days after the new rules went into effect. As I gave the baggage to the inspectors, I asked them to spin the locks after they had worked their magic. They were pleasant and said they would. When I got it on the other side it was sure enoubh locked... I was not asked and did not unlock on the other side on the way back.<BR><BR>Security seems much more professional and "user friendly" than before. . at least here in Houston.<BR><BR>Like a dummy, I left the cellphone in my pocket when I went thru the detectors and the personal search was both efficient and friendly. ( Won't do that again!)<BR><BR>Rich<BR><BR>

I think the point SantaChiara is making is that President Bush intended to make "our vaunted Homeland Security" into a home for criminals and thieves. And his evil plan was successful.<BR><BR>Is that what you are implying?

Nothing of value should ever be put into your checked luggage. Even before all the extra security measures, people had items stolen from their suitcases. Unfortunately, some of the people working at our airports are dishonest. (Big surprise!)

" Nothing of value should ever be put in your checked baggage"<BR><BR><BR>well some of my clothes have value..cashmere sweaters, blazers,good purses,wool pants..and I and others have had those go missing.

Twice in the past week, I had my bag opened for inspection by TSA. Following TSA's recommendation not to use my lock, I had used cable ties to secure the zipper both times -- and both times the inspectors failed to close the zipper completely.<BR><BR>According to the note placed in the bag by inspectors in Baltimore, there should have been a new tamper-evident plastic seal attached to the zippers.<BR><BR>On my return trip, the screeners at San Antonio neither included the notice nor attached a new plastic seal. There was about a two-inch gap between the zipper pulls when I claimed the bag at BWI. <BR><BR>Neither time did the bag's contents look disturbed, and nothing was missing, but if TSA just followed its own rules, the tamper-proof plastic seal would serve as a (mild) deterrent to thieves.<BR><BR>The TSA website says:<BR> &quot;If TSA screeners open your bag during the screening procedure,<BR>they will close it with a tamper evident seal and place a notice <BR>in your bag alerting you to the fact that TSA screeners opened your bag for <BR>inspection.&quot;<BR><BR>I e-mailed TSA with this complaint, but haven't heard back from them (not that I really expect to).

Instead of just complaining about it, what would you suggest we do to increase security? Let's here your solution for ensuring the all checked luggage is screened.<BR>

In the first place, they can treat baggage handlers like they do passengers. Screen and inventory their possessions before they enter the work area and after. I had not even taken the CD out of the wrapper. It was bulky and would have been difficult for anyone to hide. <BR><BR>Yes, I am grumpy because it happened to me for the first time after years of international travel. Maybe my blame and frustration is being misplaced. I just think it ironic that mere days after the screening was implemented, I had something stolen. Not that this is all about me. <BR><BR>Also, I had thought that the new security measures included better preemployment screening of baggage handlers and security personnel. Do you really want someone who is responsible for your safety to be a thief?

And theft never happened prior to this? Give me a break. You're connecting two unrelated facts (assuming you really had something stolen) in broad brush stroke fashion.

All this over a CD player?<BR>My Brother was called out to fight Bush's war 3 weeks ago. Does anyone care if He is lost, or the 250,000 others?

<BR>What is the point of screening CHECKED luggage? I assume its to prevent a bomb and killing a large # of people.<BR><BR>If that is the case, why not screen luggage on trains &amp; busses....or packages from folks going into malls?

Queenie, the new EU-regulations are already on their way. Soon in EU-countries also train passengers luggage will be screened. But not just yet, it takes time and money to get the train stations ready for that.