Airline baggage check

[westex]

If my understanding of the new baggage checking procedures is correct they are stating that luggage should not be locked as it my be necessary to open any bag deemed suspious. The report I heard said you should just put a slip-tie on your luggage to secure it. Well, if this is the new way of doing things how does this effect the "firearms must be in locked container" requirement?

Do I have this right? Your bag is unlocked and your firearm must be in a locked container inside your unlocked bag or since your bag must be unlocked your firearm must be in an unlocked container or if your bag must be unlocked just tape your firearm outside your bag and write "steal me" on a piece of paper and tape it on the unlocked bag.

 

[Jeff OTMG]

I flew on Monday with firearms in checked baggage with no problems. I declared them at the counter, same procedure as before, then locked up the case with the tag inside. I was instructed to take the suitcase to the inspection station where it was swabbed for explosives. Mine came up clean. If it didn't, or if I was pegged for a hand search, they would have me open the bag so they could go through it. They will not search the bag without you being present. I have had the hand search done twice in the last month.

 

[Blackhawk]

I wouldn't check unlocked luggage, period.

 

[westex]

Let's assume your unlocked bag is picked out as being suspious by some canine or the $1,000,000 piece of low bidded explosive detecting equipment. Inside this bag is a locked container (as required by law) with a tag stating there is an unloaded firearm in this locked container. Now assume no explosive is found when searching the contents of the bag. Will the lock (as required by law) be destroyed to inspect inside this container?

Kinda looks like to me sombody should have to pay you for any damages to the container and/or contents for following the law?

BTW, when was the last domestic airliner brought down by an explosive device? Memory going faster every year.

 

[Baba Louie]

I'm wondering if the airline industry still has the old $1250 limit on any items/baggage found altered or missing.

They tell you to carry and "expensive" items in your carry-on (don't try taking your Thunder Ranch Special tho'... LOL) and I've been wondering if knive shows are gonna be a thing of the past.

Imagine carrying your handmade blade/items you intend to sell in luggage or in any type of container on the same plane you're traveling on if they cannot be locked. Or camera equipment, jewelry, etc. Not gonna happen.

Lotsa long distance driving in my future, I'm certain.

Adios

 

[SIGarmed]

Will reloaders be harrassed? If you are a reloader what if you have residue on your property or person. There is a possibility that this will be detected and you will be detained. If I were a reloader I would be real carefull with how I handle stuff I'm going to take on a flight.

 

[BrianW]

I work for an airline, and due to my geographic location, am forced to fly frequently, so I'm fairly familiar with the latest regulations.

All checked bags will be searched, electronically or physically. The TSA has stated that locks will be broken in the instance a physical search is "necessary". You will not be reimbursed for broken locks. As a kindness, if your bag with the now broken locks won't remain closed, the TSA will throw it in a garbage bag in an effort to keep your underwear in the area of your suitcase.

I'm don't think the airlines will be reimbursing passengers for damage to their bags caused by TSA searches, that one I need to check on.

On a related note, no food or beverages will be allowed through security checkpoints at the concourse. Allegedly this is because many food items have the same density as plastique; my theory is that, judging from appearances, the TSA grunts eat anything foodlike within reach.

A week ago I watched a 3 year-old girl get frisked by a TSA goon. Her father had to hold her horizontally over his knee, as she was kicking and screaming while the unknown woman felt her all over her tiny body.

Isn't Homeland Security wonderful?

 

[alan]

TSA dictates and other things

Our latest Kudzu Vine-like government agency recommends, instead of locking your luggage, to use "plastic slip-ties". Is this the plastic package strapping that one sometimes sees. If so, WHERE DOES ONE GET IT???

Another point, not putting food items into your luggage. It seems that the latest electronic whizz-bangs, the ones that go for a million plus dollars, cannot differentiate between C4, Semtex and Peanut Butter. I wonder who wrote the purchase specs for this junk, and what sort of a commission the peddler of it got from his or her firm. It certainly should be a fat one.

 

[Waitone]

Tom Daschle's wife is the lobby-person responsible for placement of the machines.

Ain't that a coincidence? Imagine that. Senate majority leader's wife is truly effective.

 

[Jeff OTMG]

I have only flown out of OKC since the change, but that will change over the next couple of months. My bag was examined while I was there with it. In Austin the machines are on the customer side of the ticket counter as well. There would be no reason to 'break locks' on the bags at the two airports that I have seen because the bag owner is standing right there and could open it for them.

Brian, to the best of my knowledge, the examination was only for explosives, but when I left Guam all bags were x-rayed. Of course my firearms showed up on the x-ray. The agent that I declared my firearms to was summoned to verify that they were declared. Are you saying that none of the U.S. airports have such a procedure in place? Is x-ray part of the inspection process at some airports or is it only for explosives? Are the inspection stations at some airports on the backside of the ticket counter? Is there anyway to find out which airports are like that so that they can be avoided by gun owners?

This brings up an interesting situation in Texas. Lethal force may be used in Texas to prevent criminal mischief in the nighttime. If I were to catch a night flight and one lock is broken, it is legal here to kill the perp to prevent further damage. Law enforcement officers are not exempt from this law either.

Also the limit is $2500 on the value of a bag and its' contents. Additional insurance can be purchased for $1 per $100 declared value up to an additional $2000 max. Sometimes the ticket agent will claim that firearms are not covered by the excess valuation declaration, but that is not true. A Southwest Airline agent tried that on me in Tulsa once. I have been known to carry two bags and put guns in both because if they were all in one the value would exceed the $4500 limit.

One other thing. If they are eating food found in the luggage, I am going to finally be able to use that vial of nicotine sulphate that I have. I will spike a package of Ding-Dongs that I am in the habit of taking with me.

 

[G31user]

The new baggage screening process is full of "what-ifs" and is a joke. My dad is a prof. big-game hunter and often flies around the world with large rifle cases that are pieces of luggage themselves. He said that if he was not allowed to lock his gun cases, then he would start sending his guns via FedEx.
But seriously, do people here really think TSA agents are going through luggage looking for food .

 

[BrianW]

JeffOTMG, some airports, maybe most, do indeed use xray machines on checked baggage, often only using the explosives sniffer machines on bags where the contents cannot be readily identified by xray. I just took home a new dvd player in an unopened box, after xraying it (in another room while I waited outside) they asked if I had opened the box. After I said no, they swabbed it and ran it thru the sniffer.

At our little airport all bags are being physically searched at this time, since we don't have the xray or sniffer machines in place, but that is changing soon.

But seriously, do people here really think TSA agents are going through luggage looking for food .

LOL, like I said, only if you judge by appearances.

I air freight my bags most of the time, but that requires being a "known shipper" which is a whole 'nother can of worms.