If US Customs searches your luggage, do they tag it?

[jaminmd]

I've had TSA search my luggage before and it was tagged. When we opened our luggage last night it was a disaster! DH had everything neatly packed & it was given the once over. There were no stickers to indicate an official search which leads me to believe it was port or airport staff looking for valuables.

All of our valuables were in our carry on & so far it doesn't appear that anything is missing. I'll be washing my clean clothes again now since I don't want to wear my knickers after some unknown person touched them.

 

[Teri1]

My DH has had his extra large suitcase checked, when we left our cruise last year. When we got home and he opened the suitcase there was a note on top stating it was checked. It Did not look a disaster inside. The year before that he received a sticker that stated it was checked by a K-9.

 

[owensamo]

In my experience (both airline and cruise travel), you always have your luggage with you when you go through customs, so you know if it gets searched or not. I understand that if you do onboard check-in for flights, your luggage gets set aside and if Customs wants to search it, they will pull it and do so with you there.

The US Customs and Border Patrol inspection steps can be found here:
http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov...pection_process.ctt/cbp_inspection_proces.pdf

This does specify picking up luggage *before* going to the customs officer. This is probably because if duty is required, they will want to double-check the items.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Customs will only search a bag with the passanger there. TSA will leave you a note. Maybe your bag came open and the baggage handlers just stuffed things back in?

 

[jaminmd]

No, it didn't open by itself. We noticed one of the front zipper compartments was open & DH did not leave it that way. He is OCD about the way he packs & triple checks everything.

We did on-board check in so we didn't see our bags again until we arrived at DCA. I'm sure they were looking for valuables or medications - it's not like it's unheard of for there to be thieves working as airline baggage personnel.

When TSA searched our bags previously it didn't look like a disaster, either.

 

[Bonniec]

I thnk I saw on another post you can use one of those platic ties to close your bag (the kind you have to snip open with scissors). Can you really use something like that? I would think not.

 

[CEGrant]

In the past we've found a note inside informing us the TSA has searched our bags and giving a phone number to call if there were any issues. It was put back differently, but not messy.

 

[jaminmd]

I thnk I saw on another post you can use one of those platic ties to close your bag (the kind you have to snip open with scissors). Can you really use something like that? I would think not.

You can & TSA would cut it if necessary. Most luggage locks have a skeleton key that the TSA can use if necessary, too. We didn't use them this time. I think this might have been only the second time we chose not to use the locks, so I'll make sure we use them in the future.

 

[raydurz]

There are special locks you can buy that allow the TSA to unlock it, as they have a master key. You may want to see if you can buy one. I know most airports in the States have them for sale in gift shops and the like.

 

[TnRobin]

We are very diligent about locking our luggage (with the TSA approved locks). Many years ago - pre-9/11 - we got home and some character items, that I knew were packed, were missing from our luggage. My then 4 yo was devastated (hence why I was sure it was packed in the first place). I had to call Park Merchandising and have Mickey "sent home as he missed his flight."

I know 99% of the people at the airport are honest people doing their jobs, but it is my luck that that 1% is handling my luggage.

 

[MaleficentRN]

No, it didn't open by itself. We noticed one of the front zipper compartments was open & DH did not leave it that way. He is OCD about the way he packs & triple checks everything.

We did on-board check in so we didn't see our bags again until we arrived at DCA. I'm sure they were looking for valuables or medications - it's not like it's unheard of for there to be thieves working as airline baggage personnel.

When TSA searched our bags previously it didn't look like a disaster, either.

No, it's not unheard of. Just giving them the benefit of the doubt. This is a good reminder to put all valubles in your carry on.

 

[tajz90]

I thnk I saw on another post you can use one of those platic ties to close your bag (the kind you have to snip open with scissors). Can you really use something like that? I would think not.

You can put plastic ties on luggage. That is how we lock our luggage now since the little locks have to be standard and you won't know if someone went thru your luggage.

We have had our luggage searched when not in our possession. There was a letter inside and clothes looked basically the same condition of neatness.

 

[MTmomma]

We joke around all the time. Every time I travel, my bags get searched. On our cruise, we swapped name tags, and had my sons tag on my bag, and vice versa. Yep. Mine (my real bag) was searched, sons was not.....
I get the TSA printout in my luggage, and the us customs notice too. Things are shifted, but never messy, and never missing anything.

 

[disneyholic family]

customs searches bags with the passenger present..
TSA leaves a note when it searches (at least i've always gotten a note)..

thieves on the other hand don't leave notes, but do leave a mess...

wasn't there an investigative report recently about crime rings in airports stealing stuff from suitcases?

 

[DizDragonfly]

A lock or zip tie on a suitcase may keep an honest person from the temptation to open your bag. However, anybody with a pen can open your bag without touching the lock or cutting the zip tie. And you'd never know they'd been in your bag unless something was missing or things were jumbled up more than they should be.

 

[ssawka]

TSA usually leaves a note, but not always. I think it depends on who does the inspection and how busy they are.

 

[valbob89]

We use the TSA locks, even if we are picking up our bags at the pier. I have spoken with fellow cruisers who have had things taken from their bags when they put them outside of their cabin the night before disembarking. Not sure if things were taken by a fellow passenger who opened the luggage when it was sitting or stacked in the halls, or DCL luggage handler. Doesn't really matter does it?

 

[pjacobi]

A TSA agent was fired after leaving a note in luggage. After finding a battery powered device, the TSA wrote, "You go, girl!". The airline passenger complained about the note and TSA agent was later identified and fired. The story was reported in all the major news sources.


-Paul

 

[CEGrant]

A TSA agent was fired after leaving a note in luggage. After finding a battery powered device, the TSA wrote, "You go, girl!". The airline passenger complained about the note and TSA agent was later identified and fired. The story was reported in all the major news sources.


-Paul

Too funny.

 

[jaminmd]

A TSA agent was fired after leaving a note in luggage. After finding a battery powered device, the TSA wrote, "You go, girl!". The airline passenger complained about the note and TSA agent was later identified and fired. The story was reported in all the major news sources.


-Paul

You know I had to Google that since I didn't hear the story. The note said to "get your freak on girl." LOL.

I thought it was bad that they touched my underwear.