Horror stories re luggage?

[buzz2400]

I would like to hear any horror stories you have about luggage at the airports i.e. luggage ruined or missing things in your luggage after they were searched. I was just wondering if after the TSA searches your luggage when you are not present if things are be taken.

 

[AllAboutDisney]

In March 2001, my husband and I were returning from WDW via USAirways and our luggage was randomly chosen to be screened by the Xray machine. We proceeded to the area to have it xrayed. I heard the zipper but really didn't think anything of it and they proceeded to send the luggage down to the baggage handling area. When I got home my makeup bag was gone along with about $2,500.00 worth of jewelery. I know you are thinking what a stupid @$$ for having jewelery in your luggage, but I did and it was gone. I reported it to the Orlando police and filed a claim with my insurance company. About 6 months later the police began emailing me with pics of recovered jewelery. I really did not know when the jewelery left my suitcase cause we had briefly left our luggage out in front of the GF (where we stayed). There was also a chance I had left it on the bed in the hotel room. After about a year I was notified by the police that they had arrested 2 guys who worked in the XRAY part of security. HMM.... The zipper I heard was mine. They would XRAY a bag and if they saw something interesting in the bag, they would rip it off. He is serving time in the Orlando jail and has been ordered to pay restitution when he gets out. I am anxiously awaiting my $$$ (NOT)!!!!!! That is my story!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Cannot give you a horror story, but, can tell you two of our bags were randomly searched in Feb. I would not have known it except there was a slip of paper in the bags stating they had searched it. Nothing was missing and it was exactly the same as I had packed it.

 

[pixiechick]

ditto to what Gail said. We flew out of Phila. on 4/12. When we arrived at MCo, we noticed little orange stickers that had TSA written on them. When we opened our bags, one had a letter inside stating it had been searched. Nothing out of place, they had actually repacked a little better than we had. Totally reinforced my belief in the value of ziplock bags!

 

[BonnieA]

My suitcase was mangled on my trip return on 4/10. I don't think it had anything to do with TSA. Looks like it may have gotten caught on a conveyor. The top corners were ripped and folded back. Things could have fallen out but since I packed everything in ziplock there were no small items to fall out. Even with gaping holes the contents remained. Delta now has my bag which has been sent away for repair (we'll see).

 

[inkkognito]

I can give you a good experience story...our garment bag was searched once when we were not present (going from MCO to MDW). It was falling apart, so hubby had cable tied it together. It was the one bag we were hoping would not get searched, since it was held together with ties and a prayer! They must have noticed that, as they wrapped it really good with tape when they were done. Everything had been put back neatly, and the tape held it together so we got it back safely. We fly to Orlando nearly every month, and that's the only time we've had a bag searched.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[beautybelle]

In reguards to our luggage should we just pack up our stuff and not lock them or anything and just hope nobody steals nothing, because Ive been reading that if you lock them they will break them anyway. Any ideas?

 

[Auntie Bon]

Use cable ties. That way they can cut them open to search and then hopefully they'll reseal them with the same.

 

[peg2001]

Here's a couple tips to avoid luggage horror stories: don't pack anything of value in your check-in bags, pack essential toiletries and medicines in your carry-on, pack one change of clothing in your carry-on.

Even if your bags go astray for a day or so, you'll manage.

Peggy