TSA luggage search

[hungrygreenhippo]

Years ago I seem to remember that if TSA searched your luggage they would leave a note inside saying that the luggage had been searched. Does anyone know if this is still done? I just got off the plane and my luggage was definitely opened and tampered with. I haven't been able to tell yet if anything is missing but will definitely be looking closely as I unpack...

 

[SilverMickey]

As I recall the TSA put a silver sticker on my bag... maybe on the Airport information tag... that you match your luggage ticket with. I think on one occasion they put a note inside that back telling me what the problem was... (a very large Yankee Candle) (A sweet smelling bomb?)

 

[Missytara]

As I recall the TSA put a silver sticker on my bag... maybe on the Airport information tag... that you match your luggage ticket with. I think on one occasion they put a note inside that back telling me what the problem was... (a very large Yankee Candle) (A sweet smelling bomb?)

That happened to me a few years ago.

I had a spoon and a jar of peanut butter - the jar of peanut butter is dense and shows up on the screening.

Luckily it was right on top and they didn't have to search through the whole bag to find it; they left me a silver sticker on my airline tag that showed it had been opened. I have one of those TSA locks on it, and it had not been damaged in order to open the bag.

 

[kathyell]

I got the unexpected souvenir of a card on top of the inside of one of my bags on my last trip saying that bag had been subject to a randomly selected "extra screening". It didn't indicate an item that had caused concern when they saw it via the scanners, I assume because there wasn't anything and I was just randomly selected. (Lucky us.)

They either repacked the bag EXACTLY as I'd packed it or they didn't look very thoroughly.

Maybe you get the sticker if a specific thing in your luggage caused concern and they inspected your bag, and the card if it was just randomly selected?

 

[Henlady]

In September I had a container of coffee creamer that was placed in a clear plastic bag to eliminate any spills, and a container of coffee and an individual cup coffee maker in my checked luggage along with my clothes. When we got home from our return flight and I opened my luggage, I noticed a bright orange "TSA Checked" sticker on the Baggage claim thing. Inside, the container of creamer was out of the plastic bag, partially open and powdered creamer was all thru the luggage. Guess they checked it and then just threw it back into the luggage.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Could have been an airline employee going through your luggage---

 

[dburg30]

In September I had a container of coffee creamer that was placed in a clear plastic bag to eliminate any spills, and a container of coffee and an individual cup coffee maker in my checked luggage along with my clothes. When we got home from our return flight and I opened my luggage, I noticed a bright orange "TSA Checked" sticker on the Baggage claim thing. Inside, the container of creamer was out of the plastic bag, partially open and powdered creamer was all thru the luggage. Guess they checked it and then just threw it back into the luggage.

Or something else could have been thrown on top of it and 'popped' it open, or a pressure change (I dont know what the luggage area is pressurized to) could have caused issues also. Not saying it wasnt the TSA, OR someone else, but it could have been totally unrelated.

 

[katied]

I've always gotten a card inside, or a silver sticker on the tag, to let me know they've searched my bag.

 

[Henlady]

dburg30:
Well, the container of powdered creamer was the original tubular shaped cardboard one with the top that turns to the opening. It was fully twisted open(and I know I didn't pack it that way) and it was completely out of the bag, and the bag and the twist tie were laying in the suitcase near the container of creamer. So, I know air pressure or something heavy being on top of it didn't do that. Someone was in my bag and left a mess, whether it was TSA or someone in baggage handling, who knows. That's why I never leave anything of value in my checked baggage. All they would get were a few clean clothes and a lot of dirty ones, and maybe the one cup coffee maker that I got for $2 at a yard sale.

 

[Meeky Mouse]

I wonder how random these searches are. On our trip home 2 weeks ago, both my husband's and daughter's bags were searched - that's 2 out of 3 of us. Somehow that doesn't seem very random.

I was more than a little annoyed because they didn't put my daughter's lock back on her bag. It was a TSA-approved lock that I spent $12 on.

 

[JodiR]

My luggage was opened in November and there was a notice in my suitcase. The only problem... they took apart my CPAP machine and broke it. I had to pay $400. I have a claim in with the TSA. So frustrating!

 

[kritter]

My luggage was opened in November and there was a notice in my suitcase. The only problem... they took apart my CPAP machine and broke it. I had to pay $400. I have a claim in with the TSA. So frustrating!

I am soo sorry to hear that. Those machines, are wicked expensive. My dad always carries his c-pap machine in his carry-on. They do make him open it all the way up when he goes through security but safer this way..Good Luck!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

I have never gotten a silver sticker but we have had the card in our bags a fewtimes--including in December. Every time the bag and contents have been in the same consition when we got them as they were when we chcecked them in.

 

[strmtroopr96]

We have always gotten the card in all of our suitcases for the last few years but in September, we didn't get one card at all. I don't remember a sticker either.

 

[bookwormde]

There are random searches, but most are from items that tey can not fully identify by the scanners. I have allways had a tag or note

bookwormde

 

[pr surfer]

I've gotten several of the TSA love notes before