what happens when your bags get searched?

[stahshee]

i am planning on bringing 3 suit cases with snacks in it in zip lock baggies. people warn me about being searched now i have flown for the last three years what happens when they get searched?

 

[Pinnie]

When my bags are searched, the TSA usually leaves a zip cord on the zipper and a note inside my bags telling me that they were searched. For some reason, I have one duffle bag that always gets pulled aside. MY DH thinks it is because we had our balcony door opened at the BCVs during ILLUMINATIONS and some of the soot from the fireworks got imbedded in the fabric of the bag.

pinnie

 

[Bev J]

From our home airports- all of our luggage is hand searched before we even get to the check in gate. We are standing there watching them. They don't lift everything out. Usually lift stacks to look and run some kind of little sensor over everything. one time I had a small box of matches in my checked luggage, they pulled them out came and showed them to me. They had to test one to make sure they were strike on matches. REturned them to me and told me to keep them in my carry on.
We do try and pack as much as we can in airbags and ziplocks, especially our underwear and anything in bottles that might leak. We were told by one inspector that this will speed up the luggage check.
WE also pack snacks in ziplock bags and clear rubbermaid containers, no problems with this at all.

Bev

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I just found a little note in our bags that said they had been searched. DH said the baggage people must have had a laugh when they saw all the kids clothes in plastic bags. He doesn't realize how many other people know this packing tip also.

 

[cbrfan]

They lose the hanger off your garment bag.

 

[cindyfan]

We've been searched a lot...and our bags have a few times.
DH travels a lot and it is quite common for him now.

But if they search your luggage...they will use a cable tie on it when they are done....I think this tells them that it was already searched and no one else will grab it to search again. Plus the put a note inside.
the first time this happen.....DH did not have any way to cut the cable tie....all his nail clippers or scissors were inside!
so he had to call the front desk to bring up a pair of scissors to cut it.

So from then on, we always put a nail clipper or small pair of scissors....even the rounded kids ones will do.....in the outside zipper pocket of one of the bags!! We needed it!!!

 

[lsteadman]

They lose the hanger off your garment bag.

I thought I was the only one who had a luggage piece lost. They lost the clip that I can attach the two suitcases together and pull them.

 

[jenrose66]

2 of my 3 suitcases were searched on my last trip on the way home. We had a luggage strap around the bags (it's just like a belt since they tell you not to lock them) and instead of unfastening them they just cut right through them, kind of rude, but I guess it's necessary.

Our clothes were all messy and inside was a piece of paper saying our bag was randomly searched to keep america safe...

 

[C.Ann]

In Feb. and April of this year my bags were searched when flying out of Albany, NY.. Both times I had used the plastic twisty ties that come on electrical cords and such..

The bags were searched, everything was neatly rearranged, there were notes inside that the bags had been hand-searched and they put the plastic ties back on just the way I had them..

 

[Thumper13]

i am planning on bringing 3 suit cases with snacks in it in zip lock baggies. people warn me about being searched now i have flown for the last three years what happens when they get searched?

Little furry Gremlins search your bags looking for cookies! Just kidding!!! I had no idea what TSA did/does when they search your bags, that's why I clicked on this. Now I know!

 

[katecca]

I've watched my suitcases being searched upon check-in curbside. The person searching them had on latex gloves and lifted stacks of clothes, shoes, etc to take a look inside. They also ran something along the outside zippers. I assumed they were looking for explosive residue. We've have our bags searched without us being there as well and always had a note either inside or attached to the handle that said it had been searched.