TSA cut our ZIPPER PULL RING, not our lock!

[Lewisc]

Duds--Can you really tell the difference between a zipper pull cut from a bolt cutter and one cut by the machinery? Even if it was done by a TSA agent I wouldn't say he's lazy. Maybe more like Tim Allen. Went to cut the lock and missed.

I'm one of the people who think a lock suggests the bag may have something worth stealing. The only time I used locks was on a tour. We left the bags outside our hotel room in the morning. I though a lock might deter a hotel guest from taking a quick look in my bag.

 

[CPT Tripss]

HOORAY for TSA! Sounds like you're getting better customer service from a much-maligned govt. agency than one would expect from many commercial companies.

"We're from the government, we're here to help." Ranks right up there with "Sure, I'll still love you in the morning."

As much as the phone call sounds encouraging, it's probably best to wait for a positive outcome before giving "props." I've seen too many reports of "the tape got erased," to be overly optimistic that TSA will pay for repairs.

 

[prncess674]

I honestly hope that is what happened. I can handle wear and tear on a bag.

It is just suspect because the ring that you slide the lock thru has been cut off, or so it appears. I just doesn't look right.

I will look into getting it repaired and suggest zip ties to DW next time we fly.

Honestly it sounds more like you had a faulty zipper pull. If your bag was a cheap brand the zipper pull could have been made of pot metal which is very flimsy and cheap. Since the little lzipper ring was broken it sounds a lot more likely that your big heavy TSA approved lock got caught on some sort of machinery and it snapped the zipper ring. TSA has plenty of tools available to break locks, getting a pair of lock cutters in that teeny tiny ring takes a lot more effort than just cutting off the lock. I am siding with TSA on this one. Next time don't bother with the locks or zipties. Sure both sound like a nice idea, but if someone wants into your bag they will get into it or just steal it in its entirety.

 

[Lewisc]

"We're from the government, we're here to help." Ranks right up there with "Sure, I'll still love you in the morning."

As much as the phone call sounds encouraging, it's probably best to wait for a positive outcome before giving "props." I've seen too many reports of "the tape got erased," to be overly optimistic that TSA will pay for repairs.

I think it's nice that the TSA letting passengers know they care, maybe just PR. I doubt the TSA is going find anything. I suspect the cameras are intended to catch employees stealing stuff. I'd be surprised if the tape can determine if the cutter was used on the zipper pull vs the lock.

I don't use TSA locks and my zipper pulls go missing. Its now considered normal wear and tear. Airlines don't compensate for zipper pulls.

 

[sam_gordon]

As much as the phone call sounds encouraging, it's probably best to wait for a positive outcome before giving "props." I've seen too many reports of "the tape got erased," to be overly optimistic that TSA will pay for repairs.

I'm curious CPT... if Duds comes back and says the TSA admitted they were at fault and they'll replace the bag, would your first post be "Good for TSA for taking responsibility" or "Incompetant TSA employees shouldn't be cutting traveller's zippers!"

 

[Lewisc]

Duds--Was this the suitcase you bought at Kohls? I was one of the posters who said the suitcase wouldn't be intact after 2 flights.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I'm curious CPT... if Duds comes back and says the TSA admitted they were at fault and they'll replace the bag, would your first post be "Good for TSA for taking responsibility" or "Incompetant TSA employees shouldn't be cutting traveller's zippers!"

Yes . . .

If the TSA admits that their employee cut the zipper pull, I probably won't survive the heart attackackack.

And I wonder how all the TSA cheerleaders will react to an admission by TSA that their "highly trained work force" can not differentiate between a lock and a zipper pull.

 

[dudspizza]

Duds--Was this the suitcase you bought at Kohls? I was one of the posters who said the suitcase wouldn't be intact after 2 flights.

LOL, no I returned that one if fear that it was too large..... this one was an American Living or something like that from JCPenney.

 

[dudspizza]

Yes . . .

If the TSA admits that their employee cut the zipper pull, I probably won't survive the heart attackackack.

And I wonder how all the TSA cheerleaders will react to an admission by TSA that their "highly trained work force" can not differentiate between a lock and a zipper pull.

I will be totally surprised as well...... I actually shrugged it off and DW got upset with me saying that this should never happen......

So, we are pursuing it, at least until TSA tells us they did nothing wrong, which I fully expect.

Funny thing is.... DW was telling me this morning that the Agent from Orlando had not returned her call....... She then went on to tell me that the number she called asked her to put in the airport code to be connected to the proper TSA office...... she said she put in ORD (Orlando). You should have seen the look on her face when I told her that she left a message for the TSA at Chicago-Ohare (ORD)! When I told her Orlando was MCO, she said "that makes no sense... ORD sounds more like Orlando, but I suppose that explains why no one has returned my call". I told her MCO stood for McCoy Airfield.... then she went.... "Ohhhhhhhhh, I still like ORD better".

All I could do is laugh!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Also...

A quick call to the Security Department of the Greater Orlando Aiviation Authority asking them to preserve video wouldn't hurt. Be prepared to give them a one to to hour window of time, and airline so they can pull the off the DVR the correct sequence/camera from the secure baggage makeup and inspection area. While TSA may control the space where the inspection occurred, the airport authority is the landlord and is responsible for the security infrastructure. Typically, those DVR's record for 3 to 4 weeks before they are recorded over. You didn't hear this from me.

I will be totally surprised as well...... I actually shrugged it off and DW got upset with me saying that this should never happen......

So, we are pursuing it, at least until TSA tells us they did nothing wrong, which I fully expect.

Funny thing is.... DW was telling me this morning that the Agent from Orlando had not returned her call....... She then went on to tell me that the number she called asked her to put in the airport code to be connected to the proper TSA office...... she said she put in ORD (Orlando). You should have seen the look on her face when I told her that she left a message for the TSA at Chicago-Ohare (ORD)! When I told her Orlando was MCO, she said "that makes no sense... ORD sounds more like Orlando, but I suppose that explains why no one has returned my call". I told her MCO stood for McCoy Airfield.... then she went.... "Ohhhhhhhhh, I still like ORD better".

All I could do is laugh!

 

[serenita05]

The airlines will give you credit for new bag just put in claim.

 

[Lewisc]

The airlines will give you credit for new bag just put in claim.

Claims for damaged luggage must be made within 24 hours for Airtran passengers. Other airlines have similar policies. Some airlines consider broken zipper pulls normal wear and tear. I guess some airlines might give you a few dollars, or a voucher to a local repair shop, for a new zipper pull. I can't picture any airline giving you a new bag.

 

[NotUrsula]

Also, a claim for a replacement bag normally must be filed before leaving the airport terminal after the flight. I've had to file such claims twice (for bags that were badly slashed by the sorting machinery), and that's what I was told both times -- the claim has to be filed before the item leaves the premises (unless it was a lost bag that was delivered to you; in that case you can have the damage specifics noted on the delivery receipt.)

 

[dudspizza]

so, I went downstairs and took a closer look at the suitcase and took a picture......

DW is convinced the ring was cut....... here is a picture for your review....

 

[buzz5985]

DW called TSA last night and asked them to call her back. A very nice TSA man called her this morning and had her email him pictures of the bag. He also asked for the bag tag number so they could track the bag. He said that all TSA inspections are VIDEO TAPED and that they can track which agent inspected the bag to see if the agent indeed cut the bag or if it happened somewhere else.... He said that if TSA did indeed cut the bag and not the lock that it should not have happened...

He is referring it to MCO TSA and we'll see where it goes........ if it was damaged during the baggage process, fine..... but if it was a lazy TSA agent that should never happen....

Duds

so, I went downstairs and took a closer look at the suitcase and took a picture......

DW is convinced the ring was cut....... here is a picture for your review....

If I was a TSA agent, making $50,000/year with health insurance, sick leave, vacation time, life insurance, knowing I was being video taped - I would have cut the lock in order to steal your underwear, jeans and t shirts. And not the O-ring.

But hey - that's just me.

 

[Lewisc]

From Airtran's contract of carriage:

AirTran will not be liable for damage to protruding parts of baggage including but not limited to wheels, pockets, hanger hooks, pull handles, straps, zippers, and locks. Additionally, AirTran will not be liable for defects and/or minor damage as a direct result of normal wear and tear, such as cuts, scratches, scuffs, stains, dents, and punctures

Based on the picture duds posted I suspect a busy TSA agent missed the lock and got the zipper pull. However it's also possible the lock got caught in the sorting machinery and ripped off. When places like Consumers test luggage the kind of cheap luggage bought by the OP shows this kind of damage after only one or two trips.

 

[sam_gordon]

so, I went downstairs and took a closer look at the suitcase and took a picture......

DW is convinced the ring was cut....... here is a picture for your review....

Sorry, I don't think the picture shows one way or another. It's also possible the lock got snagged on something and where the break is was the "weakest link".

 

[jlewisinsyr]

so, I went downstairs and took a closer look at the suitcase and took a picture......

DW is convinced the ring was cut....... here is a picture for your review....

Looking at the ring, it looks to me as if it got caught and snapped. The reason I say this is the ring is pulled on the right hand side of the picture, out of a circular alignment, if it were cut, the ring probably would either be out of circular alignment on both sides or would be still aligned with just the portion cut.

 

[Lewisc]

Looking at the ring, it looks to me as if it got caught and snapped. The reason I say this is the ring is pulled on the right hand side of the picture, out of a circular alignment, if it were cut, the ring probably would either be out of circular alignment on both sides or would be still aligned with just the portion cut.

I agree.

 

[chartle]

so, I went downstairs and took a closer look at the suitcase and took a picture......

DW is convinced the ring was cut....... here is a picture for your review....

I'm 99.9999999999999999999999999% sure not cut.

You have to think of the tool they would have used, a bolt cutter.

I can't see how a bolt cutter could be used to cut just the two outer rings without damaging the inner ring that those two outer rings are attached to and they would have to do it two times.

Also no way to even get the tool into a position to do even do that kind of cut, maybe only if the zipper was in a vise to hold it steady. Much easier to just cut the lock. Even using a Dremel tool and taking my time I couldn't do it with out messing up the inside ring.

Heres the ringer. Are the edges smooth or rough? A tool would leave a smooth pinched like cut, like if you sniped the end of a wire or play dough with scissors. I'm betting that the edges are rough and somewhat flat because it was pulled a part.