Recent SW travelers?

[mazzarafe]

I saw an add in our local Sunday paper in the travel section about not locking suitcases. Those who have traveled recently, have you locked yours?

I'm sure I want to "invite" the workers behind the scenes to rummage thru my suitcase. I understand if I get selected to be inspected by security they will leave a note.

What have you done on your most recent flight?

 

[Jestocost]

It's not just Southwest, it's the Transportation Safety Adminstration's policy so it affects every airline. You are free to lock your suitcase, but if they elect to search it one of two things will happen:

One, they'll just cut off the lock and throw it away. If they can do that legitimately, I really can't see any reason why someone who wants to go through your stuff couldn't just do the same. Who'd be the wiser?

Two—and this is a much worse option—they will call you back to unlock the suitcase so that they can search it. If you've already gone through security and the suitcase is on the other side, you have to come back out and then go through again. Also, you delay the process of getting your bags on the airplane. As a result, you increase the risk that you and/or your bags will miss the flight.

Given that the protection provided by the locks on luggage isn't really the great, I'd suggest leaving them off and avoiding the potential hassles.

 

[denisenh]

We, as a family, have taken 4 trips on SWA in the past year and have left our luggage unlocked as requested. We have gotten a note in one suitcase only once stating that it was searched.
I am not positive and I am sure that someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that all checked luggage is xrayed and if something looks suspicious it is then hand seached. In other words it is treated as carry on luggage.
I wouldn't waste time worrying about it. It is a fact of air travel these days.

 

[mazzarafe]

I have not flown since Oct. '02 so things have apparently changed since then. I know that they did the random search or profiling then. I did lock my suitcases, but was unsure if that too had changed after seeing the article. I didn't read it completely so I only caught bits and pieces of the story and was not sure if it was a suggestion or a rule.

Thanks for clarifing it for me. At least I don't have to worry about taking keys for the locks with me.

 

[travelin' tigger]

That way at least it keeps anyone from opening it, but if they have to search it, all they have to do is snip it off - at least it gives me some sense of security!

 

[mcnuss]

I believe that all checked luggage is xrayed and if something looks suspicious it is then hand seached. In other words it is treated as carry on luggage.

Not all airports have the machines yet. I was in Roanoke this fall and my luggage was hand checked. I felt pretty bad for the TSA guy who had to paw thru my yicky workout clothes. If I had known, I'd have put everything into ziplocks.

 

[Pinnie]

I do believe that the Akron airport hand checks all bags, too, since they don't have the machines installed.


pin

 

[mazzarafe]

Gosh, I didn't think about the way back with all the dirty clothes!!!

 

[AZKathy]

We left ours unlocked as requested. A few bags were searched and there always was a band on the suitcase to show it was searched and a note inside the bag saying they did.

No big deal except when we arrived to our hotel, the one bag that was searched also had the clippers in it. We had nothing in the other bags to cut that plastic band off to get the suitcase opened, so we had to go down to the gift shop and buy some clippers so we could get into the suitcase. That was frustrating, but the items inside were fine and not messed up.

 

[monarchsfan16]

when we flew last summer we put those twistie ties (like u use for bags of food or anything like that) to keep the bags closed...the security people can cut them pretty easily and if u twist them tightly or knot them then it gives an extra sense of security...my dad has also used cable ties to "lock" his bag when he has flown...
the new tsa requirement is that all bags be screened, mostly for explosives...alot of airports have explosive detection machines or x-ray machines for this purpose...actually i think the majority do now....so most airports don't have to hand search unless the bag has suspicious stuff in it...but sometimes that has to do with the way the bag is packed...if u go onto swa's website there are links i believe to the tsa website where u can find advice on how to pack to avoid problems...
and in case they do hand search the bag we recommend putting items u don't want handled in clear plastic bags (like freezer bags)...

 

[inkkognito]

We typically fly to Orlando twice a month, and our luggage has only been chosen to be searched twice in that whole timespan. We use cable ties, since I work for a company that makes 'em. They are secure but can easily be cut off for searching, and we use an unusual color since security will reseal the bags with cable ties. That way we know if they were searched, even if the don't leave a note.
The first time our bag was chosen, it was a garment bag that was falling apart. Hubby, who does our packing, ignored my pleas to replace it and rigged it together with cable ties. Thankfully, the security agents must have noticed that it was a mess, as they put in the note and then wrapped it securely in tape! It held together until we got it, and hubby FINALLY agreed to get a new one.
The second time, we watched them search it, as we usually wait at the screening point for checked baggage if we can (you can do that it both Midway and MCO). They just looked through it till they found what had shown up on the X-ray and then sent it through. Since we were there, they didn't leave a note.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[JustHolly]

MCO Xrays all baggage. When you check in, your airline tags your bags, and you hand them to the x ray people yourself. They ask you at the counter whether your bags are unlocked or not. If you tell them they are locked, they tell you to take the locks off before dropping your bags to security.

We also use cable ties. We took two large suitcases to NH with us for Thanksgiving. On the way AND on the way back, BOTH suitcases were searched. Our cable ties were cut and were replaced with blue TSA cables with notes inside the suitcases.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by JustHolly
MCO Xrays all baggage. When you check in, your airline tags your bags, and you hand them to the x ray people yourself. They ask you at the counter whether your bags are unlocked or not. If you tell them they are locked, they tell you to take the locks off before dropping your bags to security.

We also use cable ties. We took two large suitcases to NH with us for Thanksgiving. On the way AND on the way back, BOTH suitcases were searched. Our cable ties were cut and were replaced with blue TSA cables with notes inside the suitcases.

Happily, you don't encounter that extra step when you use a sky cap. They check you in, hand you your ticket/boarding pass and away you go. Most definitely worth the tip.

 

[mcnuss]

Happily, you don't encounter that extra step when you use a sky cap. They check you in, hand you your ticket/boarding pass and away you go. Most definitely worth the tip.

Worth the tip ten times over!!

I cannot remember the last time I checked a bag in the terminal. It's just not worth the hassle.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by mcnuss
Worth the tip ten times over!!

I cannot remember the last time I checked a bag in the terminal. It's just not worth the hassle.

ITA, 10x's and then some, that is one of the reasons I tend to tip them VERY WELL.

 

[mcnuss]

I tend to tip them VERY WELL

Me too, and I used to get in arguments with DH about this. I usually give them $5 for my one bag, and $3 per bag when the three of us travel - so usually about $10. DH used to think I was nuts until he saw how many people stiff those guys or give them a buck to carry their 5 lead-loaded suitcases and their golf clubs!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by mcnuss
Me too, and I used to get in arguments with DH about this. I usually give them $5 for my one bag, and $3 per bag when the three of us travel - so usually about $10. DH used to think I was nuts until he saw how many people stiff those guys or give them a buck to carry their 5 lead-loaded suitcases and their golf clubs!

I am with you totally on this one. I get very vocal when I see someone stiff them. OR.....when people are in that skycap line only to get boarding passes then schlep their bags inside. IMHO, that is major inconsiderate.