TSA - was this really necessary? UPDATED!

[Kim&Chris]

Just a vent.....

When TSA searches your bags (which I am in 100% support of), I think it would be nice if they had just one tiny bit of respect for the owner of the bag.

Case in point - my checked bag was searched by TSA going from PHL to MCO. I had packed all my liquids (shampoo, conditioner, gel, etc) in a gallon sized ziploc storage bag. This way, if they leaked, the liquid would remain in the bag instead of soaking everything else in the suitcase. When searching my bag, the TSA agent took the ziploc bag out of my suitcase, and instead of opening it via the little ziploc "zipper", ripped open the bag itself. He/she then opened the bottle of shampoo by 'clicking' the bottletop open, but failed to snap it shut again. Instead, it was just shoved back into the ripped ziploc bag, then back into my suitcase.

Of course, the shampoo leaked all over EVERYTHING. I had to re-launder all the clothes. The inside of the suitcase is a mess, so I'm thinking I'll probably have to trash it.

Ridiculous. Like I said, I fully agree with & support the notion of searching bags, but a teeny bit of respect for the flier might be in order.

10/27/09 - received an email from TSA with a link to submit a claim for damaged bag.

 

[CarolMN]

File a complaint with TSA.

IMO, that was just plain mean and entirely unnecessary!

 

[safetymom]

I have had a few TSA agents like that with my expensive camera equipment. I kept my mouth shut and complained when I got home.

 

[RMulieri]

Isn't it wonderful? I have had the same thing happen.Plus, They rifled thru the bag tossing my undergarments and personal products everywhere

 

[DebbieB]

Did TSA leave a note saying they searched it? It could have also been a baggage handler.

 

[seashoreCM]

File a simultaneous claim with the airline.

 

[mgilmer]

Unfortunately the TSA is totally cavalier about their actions. You can complain but do not expect any positive action. They have the attitude that they are above the law.

 

[tam626]

Real nice.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Unfortunately the TSA is totally cavalier about their actions. You can complain but do not expect any positive action. They have the attitude that they are above the law.

I figured as much. It just really ticks me off that they can have zero respect for another person's property. I do believe in Karma, so hopefully the moron who did this to me will have the same thing happen to him/her.

 

[pilotwife_02]

That really stinks. DH thinks I'm crazy, but that's why I pack all of our toiletries in a seperate suitcase. Now with extra baggage fees most people can't do that but since we non-rev as employees of the airline we aren't charged those fees and we can do that.

Sorry they did that to you.

 

[cbsnyber1]

TSA can be wildly inconsistent with the application of rules. We flew out of Pitts with our liquids secured per the rules - sailed right through. Coming back, they took away at least three of my wife's cosmetics because the tubes were bigger than 3 oz (like, 5 or 6 oz) - but the tubes were less than half full (which is how they were when we left). Why did they pass in Pitts?

The second incident was triggered by the three of us each having the one quart bag of liquids - but in only one carryon. They said we could have only one in the carryon. So, I gave my wife and son their baggie to hold and check through security, then we put them all back in the carryon after we passed through. I thought that was absurd. Again, we sailed through Pitts with all three in one bag.

However, I ALWAYS get the extra pat down because I have an artificial knee and I have always had TSA people treat me with respect. And the pat down procedure is pretty consistent in every airport. I've learned to dress accordingly, so if you ever see someone in an airport in mid-January in shorts and a tee shirt, that's probably me. Gets me through security a lot quicker!

 

[savannahcat]

TSA can be wildly inconsistent with the application of rules. We flew out of Pitts with our liquids secured per the rules - sailed right through. Coming back, they took away at least three of my wife's cosmetics because the tubes were bigger than 3 oz (like, 5 or 6 oz) - but the tubes were less than half full (which is how they were when we left). Why did they pass in Pitts?

The second incident was triggered by the three of us each having the one quart bag of liquids - but in only one carryon. They said we could have only one in the carryon. So, I gave my wife and son their baggie to hold and check through security, then we put them all back in the carryon after we passed through. I thought that was absurd. Again, we sailed through Pitts with all three in one bag.

However, I ALWAYS get the extra pat down because I have an artificial knee and I have always had TSA people treat me with respect. And the pat down procedure is pretty consistent in every airport. I've learned to dress accordingly, so if you ever see someone in an airport in mid-January in shorts and a tee shirt, that's probably me. Gets me through security a lot quicker!

I have flown from PIT to MCO twelve times in the past 5 years and the security has always been more lax at PIT than at MCO. I don't even bother to take my quart bag out of my carry-on at PIT.

 

[Kim&Chris]

I have flown from PIT to MCO twelve times in the past 5 years and the security has always been more lax at PIT than at MCO. I don't even bother to take my quart bag out of my carry-on at PIT.

They are very lax about the quart bags now (scary in my opinion). In both PHL and MCO, they failed to even glance at the items in the baggie.

Also, in MCO, the TSA agent looked at my passport, yet did not even glance up at me to see if I was the person in the photo.

 

[bumbershoot]

TSA can be wildly inconsistent with the application of rules. We flew out of Pitts with our liquids secured per the rules - sailed right through. Coming back, they took away at least three of my wife's cosmetics because the tubes were bigger than 3 oz (like, 5 or 6 oz) - but the tubes were less than half full (which is how they were when we left). Why did they pass in Pitts?

The second incident was triggered by the three of us each having the one quart bag of liquids - but in only one carryon. They said we could have only one in the carryon. So, I gave my wife and son their baggie to hold and check through security, then we put them all back in the carryon after we passed through. I thought that was absurd. Again, we sailed through Pitts with all three in one bag.

They shouldn't have passed for your first flight at all. Totally against the rules.

The baggies aren't supposed to be *in* a carryon at all. They are supposed to be out, in a bin, at least at the places I've flown through. Get them out of the bags and they won't question it (at least all the times we've flown since the 3(.4)-1-1 thing.

 

[Halbleib1]

All the times we have flown we have never had them look at our liquids in the quart bags. On our last trip I even forgot to take them out of our carry ons and had no issues. Our first flight in 07 however the machine flaged for an upopen jar of peanut butter I had for my son. At that time the TSA website said this was ok to fly with so I did not think there would be a problem. On the trip back we had cheesecake from a counter service place and it let us through just fine. I was expecting to have to throw this out but it passed with no questions. We fly bwi-mco.

I never did understand the non liquids rule because if you have a large group of people traveling together they could just follow the rules and once on board mix it all together in an empty bottle. Scary but true. Might make it a little harder but how is this protecting us.

The only time we ever had them go through our checked luggage was that same trip in 2007. We had a suitcase with food in it. Everything was packed as we left it with a paper on top saying they opened it up is all.

Sorry this happened to you op.

 

[Kanga1]

Hmmm...you wonder what exactly DOES happen when your bags go through security. This past trip I opened one of my bags to find a few leaves and dead grass in it!! And I KNOW they weren't in there when I packed it that morning! We've had our bags checked several times, because the TSA always leaves a pre-printed note inside saying our bags were checked. There was no note in the bag this time.

 

[safetymom]

I don't trust the TSA to leave a note when they go through your luggage. I also arrange the zippers on my luggage in such a way that I know if they have opened the suitcase.

 

[JoliBug]

TSA can be wildly inconsistent with the application of rules. We flew out of Pitts with our liquids secured per the rules - sailed right through. Coming back, they took away at least three of my wife's cosmetics because the tubes were bigger than 3 oz (like, 5 or 6 oz) - but the tubes were less than half full (which is how they were when we left). Why did they pass in Pitts?

Because someone wasn't doing thier job correctly

Just a vent.....

When TSA searches your bags (which I am in 100% support of), I think it would be nice if they had just one tiny bit of respect for the owner of the bag.

Case in point - my checked bag was searched by TSA going from PHL to MCO. I had packed all my liquids (shampoo, conditioner, gel, etc) in a gallon sized ziploc storage bag. This way, if they leaked, the liquid would remain in the bag instead of soaking everything else in the suitcase. When searching my bag, the TSA agent took the ziploc bag out of my suitcase, and instead of opening it via the little ziploc "zipper", ripped open the bag itself. He/she then opened the bottle of shampoo by 'clicking' the bottletop open, but failed to snap it shut again. Instead, it was just shoved back into the ripped ziploc bag, then back into my suitcase.

Of course, the shampoo leaked all over EVERYTHING. I had to re-launder all the clothes. The inside of the suitcase is a mess, so I'm thinking I'll probably have to trash it.

Ridiculous. Like I said, I fully agree with & support the notion of searching bags, but a teeny bit of respect for the flier might be in order.

Before you go blaming TSA keep in mind that they are not the only ones that have access to your bag. TSA has your bag for a very limited amount of time, the rest of the time it is with the baggage handlers and they can do just as much damage.

Hmmm...you wonder what exactly DOES happen when your bags go through security. This past trip I opened one of my bags to find a few leaves and dead grass in it!! And I KNOW they weren't in there when I packed it that morning! We've had our bags checked several times, because the TSA always leaves a pre-printed note inside saying our bags were checked. There was no note in the bag this time.

LOL, at some airports they have to work in large garage type buildings. DH said when he worked at a different airport thier garage didn't have A/C so they would open the doors. If this is the case at the airport you flew out of there is a possibility that wind blew the leaves and grass into your bag.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Before you go blaming TSA keep in mind that they are not the only ones that have access to your bag. TSA has your bag for a very limited amount of time, the rest of the time it is with the baggage handlers and they can do just as much damage.

I don't doubt that the baggage handlers can do damage, but I think most of their 'handling' would affect the outside of the bag, or maybe some internal damage due to something getting crushed under the weight of other bags being piled on top or thrown, etc. But this was a bag inspection done by the TSA. So I blame them.

 

[koho]

TSA is pretty much a joke. They do think that they are above the law. I work at an airport firedepartment. They have tried to stop us before on a medical run in the security checkpoint. They said that we could not bring our medical bags in the checkpoint with out going through security first. And they were the ones that made the 911 call. We had to get airport police and the TSA supervisor there to get in.

Also just this past weekend we came home from Disney thru MCO and while we were unpacking the kids luggage I found that TSA cut one of our locks. I know that they to check some bags and if they are locked they cut the locks. However I purchased the locks that they recommended on their web site. These locks have a combination and a key slot that TSA has a key to. So they did not even attempt to use the key.