Airlines and Suitcases

[TexasAggie]

We just returned from Hawaii and I want to caution everyone about packing their suitcases. The new rules ask that you do not lock your bags because they may want to open them and inspect your bags. We had four suitcase and on one flight they opened and went through everything and on another flight they inspected three of the suitcases. From now on we will put a lot of our clothes in plastic bags.

 

[seashoreCM]

All baggage from Hawaii to other \U.S. locations is supposed to be inspected for agricultural reasons (certain fruits and vegetables not allowed, some inspection for plant pests).

I am not sure whether some of this inspection has been combined with TSA inspection, in the past agricultural inspection was done with you present, as you enter the airport.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

(This post written from WDW, Disney Quest!)

 

[TexasAggie]

This was seperate from the agriculture inspection. They even inspected on one of the inter-island flights.

 

[marn913]

We had the same experience over a year ago flying from Hawaii. They scanned first for agriculture and then did additional hand checks at the ticket counter. After that they checked every carry-on and had everyone remove their shoes and wanded our bodies and shoes again (after the security check point). They hand inspected every bag (this was before the new regulations). Even if you packed clothes in plastic bags, they would probably have had you open them - we had some items in bags and they had asked us to open everything. However, on the lighter side - they were all very polite and made things quick and painless!