Airport Security should be consistant at each airport

[pumba]

when we left Maine.....they took our suitcases and we already had them unlocked and they then said we could lock them back up after the xray machine was through....they put a little orange sticker (that days were orange) and then the TSA person said that they were good all the way through our trip.......we get to the airport coming home from Disney and go to MCO and we say that we would like to lock them back up after they put it through the xray machine and the man ....and I will tell you he was not that nice....he started to read us the riot act.....all we did was say what we were allowed to do in Maine.....lock them back up...and he commences to say that if atlanta wants to open them when we arrive there they are going to and then rip the suitcases to bits....he even admitted to breaking into a 300 dollar suitcase to get his kicks.....we were not impressed with this........if the airports want to do security that is fine....but do it all over the US and not just in one airport and not in another.......this really got us not in a good mood....

 

[DebbieB]

Here in Pittsburgh, we have a similiar situation. All the screening is done on the main floor in your presence and you can lock your luggage after. About half the people get a hand search and half get an x-ray check (due to the x-ray machine not having the capacity to handle all luggage). However, this system takes alot of time, you have to stand in line twice, actually 3 times. You have to stand in the regular check-in line and get your luggage tagged (no curbside available), then you go to the checked luggage screening and then to the regular security. They are working on a better system where the scanning is done behind the scenes by x-ray and part of the regular baggage system, therefore not requiring customers to stand in a second line to check luggage and not requiring hand checks except on suspicious items. Orlando is already setup this way. I think they will eventually all be similiar, but it takes time for each airport to purchase and setup the required equipment. I had heard that they hope to have Pittsburgh setup by this Spring.

TSA's rules suggest that you do not lock the luggage and they may have to break the locks if you do. If you are worried about the luggage opening, use twist ties or something that you don't mind them opening if they have to. If you are worried about theft, most of those locks could be broken anyway, don't pack anything valuable.