USA (LOTFAP), TSA, US Sim cards and 4th of July weekend in Chicago

[bigjobs]

Hi there,

I have a couple of questions about US travel.

1. do the TSA still open your bags when you travel through? I land LAX then head to ORD and then EVV.

2. I have a Heys suitcase that has a TSA approved lock on it, will this be secure enough?

3. Do TSA still steal your valuables from your luggage? (I had some gifts stolen last time)

4. I want to get a micro sim for my iphone4 and ipad2, are these easy to obtain? What carrier would you recommend?

5. Hotel recommendations in downtown Chicago, around Michigan Ave. I will be 'stuck' in Chicago over the 4th of July w/end :mrgreen:

All I can offer for your assistance is my thanks in advance ....

Cheers
BJ

 

[Blackadder]

1. Bags can be subject to TSA inspection, in my experiences it seems to be random in nature however if it is opened a note should be left in there from the TSA.

2. Have had no issue with bags having just a TSA lock on it

3. Have had no experience of this happening to me, but have heard reports from others.

4. Any of the major telcos will have prepaid sims for sale.. AT&T,Verizon,Sprint,T-Mobile etc. For me Verizon was the best as it had the free calls Verizon to Verizon, which was useful when calling my US based partner.

 

[drewbles]

1) Yup. They do it randomly and put the 'love note' in your bag (a little signed note of pre-printed cardboard saying your bag was inspected)

2) Yes. They will break into anything they want to, and you have to deal with it unfortunately. I had some TSA approved padlocks several years ago and one was removed for inspection. They didn't use their key, they cut it off. Or, to be more exact, they cut the damn zip on the bag (the kind of bag where the zips had a loop that interconnect where the two zips meet, and the lock goes thru the loop). When I queried why they said "Oh, did you have TSA003?" (each lock has a number so the TSA agents know which key to use) so I said "yes". Their response? "Oh, we always lose the keys to those ones, so we just cut 'em off!". Useful. Not. My advise: use plastic cable ties. Easy to see if it's been tampered with, and you just need to find someone with a pair of scissors at the other end (I usually do it at reception when checking in).

3) The TSA should *never* steal anything. I've had various valuable items in my luggage before, and nothing has gone missing. If you are 100% sure they are missing, there's a website you can log a complaint via, but I don't like your chances of proving anything. Best option is to either ship them as freight (Plenty of UPS and FedEx stores around) or carry-on with them.

4) You cannot get pre-paid SIM cards for iPhone 4, although you can for iPad.

Suggest you check out Guide for Mobile Voice & Data in the USA for further information on using your iPhone in the USA (and ensure it's unlocked from your carrier before you go; it may take up to 7 days to have it unlocked in some situations).

Note that there are a lot of cheap options from MVNO's and T-Mobile, but your iPhone 4 does not support 1700mHz which T-Mobile operates its 3G network on, so you will be stuck on EDGE, which whilst cheap, isn't fast. AT&T has 500mb for $25SUD, which isn't too bad (and their network is not as bad as people make it out to be, it's just not as good as Telstra's here).

5) Can't help you with that unfortunately, as I stay with friends when in the Windy City!

 

[drewbles]

4. Any of the major telcos will have prepaid sims for sale.. AT&T,Verizon,Sprint,T-Mobile etc. For me Verizon was the best as it had the free calls Verizon to Verizon, which was useful when calling my US based partner.

Verizon do not sell SIM cards, only handsets. Verizon don't operate a UMTS/HSDPA network, which is what the iPhone and iPad use (at least all the ones sold outside the USA). They're operating a CDMA-based network, which requires you to have either the CDMA iPhone or iPad, and they're not available to buy outside the USA (and the iPhone only under contract at present for them).

Sprint are the same, they're a CDMA network. Your only options are AT&T or T-Mobile for iPhone (and as mentioned, Only AT&T if you want anything but 2G data).

 

[Blackadder]

Verizon do not sell SIM cards, only handsets. Verizon don't operate a UMTS/HSDPA network, which is what the iPhone and iPad use (at least all the ones sold outside the USA). They're operating a CDMA-based network, which requires you to have either the CDMA iPhone or iPad, and they're not available to buy outside the USA (and the iPhone only under contract at present for them).

Sprint are the same, they're a CDMA network. Your only options are AT&T or T-Mobile for iPhone (and as mentioned, Only AT&T if you want anything but 2G data).

Thanks for that..was under the impression they did do pre paid sims..

 

[drewbles]

Thanks for that..was under the impression they did do pre paid sims..

Alas no. There are no SIM cards used in CDMA networks rather it's utilising serial numbers in the handset/device itself

 

[RB]

Hi there,



5. Hotel recommendations in downtown Chicago, around Michigan Ave. I will be 'stuck' in Chicago over the 4th of July w/end :mrgreen:

All I can offer for your assistance is my thanks in advance ....

Cheers
BJ

In 2010 we booked via Priceline & got a fantastic rate & a great stay at the Embassy Suites great location, being near Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile. Not sure how much time you have in Chicago but if possible make use of the Chicago greeter program-we got a fantastic tour from our greeter


Review of our time in Chicago is here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ws/chicago-embassy-suites-lakeside-24144.html

 

[bigjobs]

In 2010 we booked via Priceline & got a fantastic rate & a great stay at the Embassy Suites great location, being near Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile. Not sure how much time you have in Chicago but if possible make use of the Chicago greeter program-we got a fantastic tour from our greeter


Review of our time in Chicago is here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ws/chicago-embassy-suites-lakeside-24144.html

did you use that 'auction / name your price' feature on that priceline website. seems like you just name a price and they give you a hotel in your nominated area, but you don't know which hotel until you confirm you want their offer.

 

[RB]

did you use that 'auction / name your price' feature on that priceline website. seems like you just name a price and they give you a hotel in your nominated area, but you don't know which hotel until you confirm you want their offer.

Yes, went through the bidding process. We checked the better bidding site to see which hotel was active at the time & to get a feel of the prices being paid.
Also have a read of this from Flyer Talk
[Priceline Bidding] New site for Priceline hotel bidding help - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[neon_crossing]

In Answer to your questions (the ones that I can help with)

4. I want to get a micro sim for my iphone4 and ipad2, are these easy to obtain? What carrier would you recommend?
I have twice used the services of Mr Simcard and have been very happy with the service, email them what you need and they will have a good package for you.

5. Hotel recommendations in downtown Chicago, around Michigan Ave. I will be 'stuck' in Chicago over the 4th of July w/end

I would recommend "La Quinta Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown, One South Franklin, Chicago" one of the best hotels I stayed in the last time I was in the USA.

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