What condition were your belongings in after search.

[mamadonna]

I'm not sure but I don't think Denver has those security machines in yet and will be searching every bag that is checked. Has anyone had any problems with checked baggage?

I consider myself a wiz at properly jamming things into my luggage. More so then any mear mortal. Makes me laugh when I think of someone trying to search my bag who can't get everything back in. LOL

 

[Snoozan]

2 of 3 bags were searched coming back from Orlando. I highly recommend packing as much into clear ziplock bags/space saver bags. No way was I going to have anyone touching my underwear! I didn't overpack the suitcase, partly because I didn't want it to be a problem for whoever had to close it up after the inspection.

 

[mamadonna]

ROFL - Imagining someone searching my dirty underwear on the return from orlando.

Seriously though, I was planning on puttin all dirty clothing in a trash bag. should it be clear? Was using white bags.

 

[maps]

just got back and we got a note in one of our bags that said it was searched. nothing was really amiss and i didn't have all my toiletries in clear plastic bags. it didn't seem to be a problem.

 

[sgtdisney]

We had a bag searched this past January on a flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Chicago. They put a note inside the suitcase, but it didn't look like much was disrupted. I will say that we packed a little lighter on this trip than on others.

 

[sammi]

I just finshed packing for our trip and I actually spread what normally would be 2 suitcases of clothes into 3 just so I didn't have a mess if they do go through our things. This is the first time we've flown since 911 and we've never been through all this extra inspecting so I though it better to add another suitcase.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by sammi
I just finshed packing for our trip and I actually spread what normally would be 2 suitcases of clothes into 3 just so I didn't have a mess if they do go through our things. This is the first time we've flown since 911 and we've never been through all this extra inspecting so I though it better to add another suitcase.

Trust me, you did the right thing. Who knows what the inspectors would do if they couldn't 'repack' a suitcase and fit everything back in. Images of my clothes in a plastic bag with my name on it come to mind. Each person is allowed 2 pieces of checked luggage, and I think it is better to pack less in 3 pieces as opposed to stuffing 2. That and most airlines are charging for overweight and oversized luggage now.. Enjoy your trip!

 

[sammi]

Thanks sgtdisney, that's exactly what I figured might happen so I figured it best to split our stuff up a bit. Also I spent the day ironing everything which was probably a big mistake too!

 

[CarolA]

I got the notice on my last flight and if it wasn't for the piece of paper, I don't think I would have known. I had purchased a figurine that probably looked very strange on the scanner!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

In my wife's case the other week, not very good.

She had to go to Kansas City for a business meeting, and while there she picked up some souvenirs and gifts. Unfortunately, she had to check both bags on the way home as she had twisted her ankle while there (that, on top of having a joint disorder and already walking with a cane, made dealing with a carry-on extremely difficult).

When she got home, she opened the suitcases and pulled out the gifts. Both bags had been searched. This one bowl had a bad chip in it that wasn't there before, and a Mickey figurine was now beheaded. Now they're worthless. The Mickey figurine can't even be glued back together because when I put the pieces together there's a chunk missing.

A warning for the future .... if you have ANYTHING valuable or breakable, find some way to keep it with you at ALL times.

 

[seashoreCM]

(copied from another forum)

I do not think there is any safe way of flying home those blown glass souvenirs sold on Main St. at MK and a few other locations.

As far as I know the second best way of packing them is to glue or fasten the bottom to a rigid board or cardboard and they remain suspended in air inside a shipping carton.

I don't think TSA knows this. Packing tissue paper around it will break it.

The very best way requires a custom fitted foam packing that exerts just the right amount of pressure at the right places. It would require a laser guided foam cutting machine (probably doesn't exist anywhere in the world) and the padding would cost much more than the item itself.

As far as the decapitated statue, assuming it was prperly packed to begin with and declared fragile at check in, I continue to advocate completing the filing a claim with the airline before leaving the airport even after they tell you to file it with TSA.

Airlines still occasionally insist on gate checking some baggage as you walk down the jetway. I suggest you stop, open it, and take out valuable or fragile items before handing it over.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Grumbo]

We flew out of Orlando yesterday and when we took our bags for check in they told us all film should be removed as the machines used would wreck it. Now we had purposely put our exposed film into the checked in bags figuring it would save it from the Xray machinery when going through carry on. We had four bags and what a fiasco with everyone (other groups of people at 6:30 am with bags torn apart looking for film tucked into nooks and crannies of baggage. Needless to say we found it all (The underwater disposables were 800 ASA/ISO so were particularly vulnerable). It was a bit of a pain but I appreciated the staff telling us what would happen to the film. They advised that the Xrays at carryon wouldn't effect 400 ASA/ISO or lower but we had them hand checked just in case. Figure it was worth the few minutes rather than lose all of the photos.
I love my digital camera and rubbed it in to my wife how no problems with the memory cards going through check in
It is a small price to pay for the way things are going these days and glad they are looking.
Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[sammi]

Great information Grumbo. We've also got a disposable underwater camera we've packed in our carry-on but I'll move it to "higher ground", plus I have my digital camera and regular 35mm with film, so I'll place these on the top of our bag.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Grumbo]

Well hopefully you'll have the weather we had. I look like Sebastian the lobster but when it was really hot I just kept thinking of the snowblower in the garage at home and laughed.
They forecast thunderstorms for half the time we were there and we got 2 hours of rain and that was sometime between 2 am and 7 am so I didn't really care
Have fun!
Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[DaisyDebbie]

When we returned home from our last trip, I noticed that the dial lock on my suitcase was popped open. If you do not leave your suitcase unlocked they will pop it open. I found a note inside also stating that they searched my bag, but it didn't even look like they did.

 

[mamadonna]

Thanks for the tips. We have two full , but not crammed bags that were going to check. We have three carry on's including a diaper bag. Were shipping the excess home. Hope this works.

 

[Grumbo]

You're shipping the excess diapers home?
Hopefully they're not the used ones. Think the UPS guy will NOT be impressed
Have fun...
Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Two of my bags were searched and if they had not left a slip telling me of the search, I would never have known. This was a searched done when we were flying out of Orlando.

 

[sammi]

Thanks guys! You all have been so great with plenty of tips for all of us that are leaving soon!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Great information Grumbo. We've also got a disposable underwater camera we've packed in our carry-on but I'll move it to "higher ground", plus I have my digital camera and regular 35mm with film, so I'll place these on the top of our bag.

Sammi, in another life I was a photo center manager and actually went to school for this job. Most film purchased for consumer use can make it through the scanners at the airport. What kills film is the xrays they use for checked luggage. Any film under 1000 speed is fine through the scanners that check your carry on stuff. What really does a number on film is a change in temp: too hot, too cold, leaving that camera in the sun etc.
That I have seen a lot of. However, I have processed 1000's of rolls from vacations that have been through the scanners and have not had anything wrong with them. If it makes you feel better, have them hand check it ( I watched someone ahead of me in Feb. have like 13 disposable cameras hand checked, crap cameras with crap film, like the pics were going to be good....NOT, all 400 speed.) I have run 800 speed through and not a problem.
I know have two Nikon digitals (950 and 5000) and I love them, no worries. I did, however, bring my Nikon 35 mm with me on the last trip and zipped right through without a problem.