I wonder what they are after - TSA?

[leadman]

In a recent trip with a USA leg I almost hit the jackpot with 4 notices of my bag being searched, not bad considering I only had 5 legs in the States. If i had something strange in my bag that shows up in the X-ray i could understand, but all i have are "Socks & Jocks", shirts, pants, etc, etc, just the norm, although i do carry two Swiss Army, to uncork those subborn bottles of wine or remove the odd beer top or two!

Its a normal Samsonite hard case, but i wonder if the "foreign" tags like the QF WP or CX set them off as my US colleague travelling with me on 4 of those legs received none! I can understand his reason for not checking in with the me!!!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Either the x-ray or explosives detector set something off. Some airports in China require you to wait until your hold luggage has been x-ray cleared before they issue your boarding passes, at least with that method you'd have a chance to rectify the issue after the first alert.

 

[leadman]

China is not the only one, Pakistan, etc, do the "wait for the bag". But this trip was 8 countries 23 legs, others without a hitch and its not the first time. I think my TSA messages are up to about 28!

 

[Himeno]

I have never gotten a TSA note and I know they have opened my bag several times. (in some cases due to the set up of the screening, I've watched them open my bag [they didn't know I could see them], still no note)

 

[Hvr]

Maybe they wanted your Vegemite?

Seriously, they saw something they thought was worth stealing and decided to see what it was and sadly you failed to have what they wanted so they used a note to explain their intrusive search.

 

[jastel]

Were the searches at smaller airports? Often they don't have the good xray machines and do manual searches.
After 3 months or travelling around the states I got yelled at for locking my bag, (with a cheap 3 ring combo lock that anyone can pick in 1 minute but it stops the zips separating) in Rapid City, was called back thru security to open the lock for them, fortunately "inside" security radioed the code to "outside" security so I didn't have to do it all again.

 

[Denali]

Vegemite or Kinder Surprises is my vote.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

A friend says whenever he packs cans of beer in his suitcase TSA open always open it without fail.

Perhaps because you had two Swiss Army knives they thought it was overkill. Would be interesting to see if they still search your bag with only one of them.

 

[blackcat20]

I had my bag opened recently and they hadn't touched a single thing ie nothing disturbed. Mums bag was opened and completely rifled through. No idea what they think they saw in mine.

 

[Deleted member]

I am beginning to think that it's best to buy stuff in the US and leave with it rather than carry luggage.

 

[dk4]

I had my bag opened recently and they hadn't touched a single thing ie nothing disturbed. Mums bag was opened and completely rifled through. No idea what they think they saw in mine.

Its not just an x-ray image that may prompt an opening: Just like the TSA Boarding Pass barcode check (as you move airside), the barcode that has been affixed to your checked luggage, may also indicate to an agent that the bag should be opened.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

China is not the only one, Pakistan, etc, do the "wait for the bag". But this trip was 8 countries 23 legs, others without a hitch and its not the first time. I think my TSA messages are up to about 28!

Actually it could be because you've been to Pakistan. How many times have you been there & how long do you stay each time?

 

[leadman]

Good point, but scary if they have all that info when you check in! I ran into a few problems with my old passport because it just happen to open on my 2 year Pakistan visa; worse one was in Stanstead where i was grilled over 1/2 hour in the "glass room". The new old is not a obvious.....

 

[JohnPhelan]

My last three departures from the US, my bags have been opened - and the notes left - every time. Funny thing is, the contents appeared completely undisturbed on all occasions.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Good point, but scary if they have all that info when you check in! I ran into a few problems with my old passport because it just happen to open on my 2 year Pakistan visa; worse one was in Stanstead where i was grilled over 1/2 hour in the "glass room". The new old is not a obvious.....

The airline doesn't hold that info but when they check you in a message is generated to DHS so they can decide if they will allow you to board the flight or not.

They probably think you've been to a terrorist training camp.

Don't suppose you share the same surname as someone in the mafia do you?

 

[Mal]

Good point, but scary if they have all that info when you check in! I ran into a few problems with my old passport because it just happen to open on my 2 year Pakistan visa; worse one was in Stanstead where i was grilled over 1/2 hour in the "glass room". The new old is not a obvious.....

They have plenty of information available. Eg previous flights on same itinerary, previous flights if you are using a ff number, when ticket was purchased, where and payment method etc.
They know a lot more about you than you suspect.

 

[Denali]

Once we were paged and escorted to the bunker of the airport to open our bags under supervision, I guess they figured if the bag was going to explode, it was going to take us out as well.

We packed a small rebreather scuba tank, valve removed so basically it was a lead cylinder and zero danger to anyone, just not the normal thing to be be packed in your bag. Hubby was having training and needed to bring all his equipment inc tanks because of the location/inability to source at location. We had also packed airport guidelines saying it was OK/safe to pack this item and taped a copy to the cylinder. 3 people supervised hubby open the bag and answered questions.

 

[blackcat20]

Pretty sure mum's bag got opened recently because we'd stashed a cast iron cooking pot in it (much cheaper in the US than here); maybe mine got opened as we were travelling together...

 

[rioter]

My last three departures from the US, my bags have been opened - and the notes left - every time. Funny thing is, the contents appeared completely undisturbed on all occasions.

I have had the opposite. Repacked by just shoving everything in that they had unrolled. Opening that bag was a bit of a shock.