Baggage tampered with -- TSA?

Hi folks,

I'm just back from the States and was concerned on my return to Heathrow to note that my bag was unlocked when I'd definitely not left it that way (it's got a built in combination lock, with TSA-approved master key).

On returning home and opening it up my suspicions were justified -- the bag had clearly been opened and then badly re-packed. I had a bottle of beer now loose, outside of the polystyrene package (a purpose-made wine carrying box) which I'd packed it in. Likewise a camera lens now loose outside of it's bag, and a box of chocolates ripped open. I'm not the world's best packer, but I can arrange the contents of a suitcase to try and protect the more fragile items, and certainly had done here, yet it returned every bit as though everything had been tipped out, opened and then thrown back in.

As it happens, somewhat amazingly, all seemed to be fine -- no real damage, and nothing missing. So, angry as I am, I'm not looking to take this forward in any way. I am curious though, hence the post, as to what went on. The obvious answer would be an official TSA inspection, but there was no slip left to indicate this (as I've had in the past) and am I naive to think they would re-pack things in a far more professional manner?!. Surely not attempted theft either, else they'd at least have swiped my camera lens, and I can't imagine would have bothered ripping open the chocs. Odd.

I flew SFO-ORD on VX, connecting with VS40 on to LHR (my first flight with the new Upper cabin -- might get round to writing a TR in due course!). I re-checked the bag at O'Hare and I think (though can't be sure since I didn't open it) that all was when then, so I'm guessing the problem happened on the VS flight. Because of the connection I checked the bag some 5 hours before the scheduled departure from Chicago so I guess it was hanging around for a while.

Anyone ever come across something similar?

This happened to us a few years ago too. The bag looked like it had been gone through & we couldn't tell if anything was missing but the TSA approved lock was missing & no TSA note in the case. That was from MCO to MAN in PE.

As you say, TSA leave a note to tell you they carefully opened your case (in my case breaking the TSA approved lock grrrr). At least it was all still there. Very odd.

DD flies to the US 2/3 times a year, usually LAX. This time she went to SFO and on her return the TSA had "inspected" her case, and like the previous poster, broken the TSA approved lock.

Had it happen to me as well. I did get a note in my bag.

However, a few things were missing and some items broken as, although I had carefully packed everything, the TSA had not bothered.

I "lost" a bottle of perfume and a bag of sweets and all the bags of peanut butter M&M's I had bought had each been opened. Quite annoying!

I emailed them about it and they basically replied with a standard response of "it is our legal right to do this" which I knew anyway.

I asked about compensation for my lost/damaged items. I was emailed a claim form (nothing else on the email, just a form!).

I didn't pursue it any further than that as upon speaking to a friend who had gone though the same thing, he was then earmarked for every search, probe, bag check and delay possible. Coincidence maybe?!

Back to the OP, they should have left a note. It might be worth you dropping an email to them so that it can be picked up for the future?

Flying to London from SFO with Virgin a brand new Ipad got stolen out of luggage (pretty sure by TSA). Went with 2 checkin bags, 1 got the leaflet, the one with stolen ipad didn't. They took the whole box out but left the apple bag and receipt inside of suitcase.

Lesson learned. Now i carry a heavy load of anything valuable as hand luggage. Can't trust anyone...

Thanks for the replies folks.

Lesson learned. Now i carry a heavy load of anything valuable as hand luggage. Can't trust anyone...

Yup, even though everything was still there this time, I was thinking similarly. Such a pain to lug around loads of hand luggage, and then battle for space in the overhead bins though.

Flying to London from SFO with Virgin a brand new Ipad got stolen out of luggage (pretty sure by TSA). Went with 2 checkin bags, 1 got the leaflet, the one with stolen ipad didn't. They took the whole box out but left the apple bag and receipt inside of suitcase.

Out of interest, what makes you suspect them, rather than 'normal' baggage thieves?

If your suitcase is locked and or has combination lock how does it get opened by the regular baggage handlers?

I am sure they must have access to universal keys to open locked cases

My snowboard bag gets checked every time I come back from SFO and their re packing is awful, I always wrap up delicate items and place them in either my boots, bindings or helmet but still find my goggles and other items loose.
Now I make sure that the first thing the TSA get their hands on is two weeks of dirty laundry ):

If your suitcase is locked and or has combination lock how does it get opened by the regular baggage handlers?

There was once a link posted here or on flyertalk which showed a YouTube video of someone doing it to a zip with just a biro. It was pretty sobering!

If your suitcase is locked and or has combination lock how does it get opened by the regular baggage handlers?

There was once a link posted here or on flyertalk which showed a YouTube video of someone doing it to a zip with just a biro. It was pretty sobering!

I don't have a problem with TSA inspecting luggage but what is the point of a hard case with a key lock that can be broken into really easily by a baggage handler?
I don't have a zip on my case

I don't have a problem with TSA inspecting luggage but what is the point of a hard case with a key lock that can be broken into really easily by a baggage handler?

Well, I don't know really! But I too suspect they have access to universal keys to open most locks.

The only conclusion I have drawn is simply not to put anything whatsoever of any real value into my checked luggage. You'd have to be pretty desperate to pinch my clothes.

Now that I think about it, I don't even bother to lock my case these days.

@at240
True! I know you are right. Just it's a sad indictment:-( do people really have that loose morals that they have zero conscience about taking items from other people's luggage. Items that that person had maybe worked hard to save up for:-(
I put a portable DVD player in my check in luggage on way back from Tokyo a few years back and it was all ok
The case had been inspected at NRT, there was a security sticker across the lock (they locked the case afterwards) but nothing was stolen and everything was as i packed it.

Cancun airport workers have TSA keys...
If they can get hold of them any Tom dick or Harry in the states can...

Hang on, an iPad in a checked suitcase???!!!!!?????

No offence but that's a recipe for disaster right away....

http://www.travelerstoday.com/articles/ ... uggage.htm

I think its possibly a massive security black hole. If its been opened (and more so if the lock has been broken), and it doesn't have a TSA leaflet in there, then it might not have been the TSA at all (but it could have been the TSA as well).

Its somewhere where thieves can operate with, in effect, the shield of the TSA taking the blame. I mean, typically who do you complain to? An authority which actively does not care (and probably isn't responsible), or the local police? Well, you can't with the latter because usually you are in another country. So there's no feedback there at all, and the thieves can continue to operate.

Flying to London from SFO with Virgin a brand new Ipad got stolen out of luggage (pretty sure by TSA). Went with 2 checkin bags, 1 got the leaflet, the one with stolen ipad didn't. They took the whole box out but left the apple bag and receipt inside of suitcase.

Out of interest, what makes you suspect them, rather than 'normal' baggage thieves?

I checked in 5 min before checkin closed so very last-minute. The ipad was very well packed (still in box) within a bag and then on the bottom of the suitcase wrapped in another bag and within a lot of clothes. I KNOW it's stupid to pack anything valuable in checkin luggage but handluggage that time was already around 14kg and to the max with space so decided for once I could do it (esp as I 'trusted' usa security better then Mexican/European etc.).

Anyway, as I checked it in so lastmin it didn't had much time to get to the plane and someone from the TSA must've seen it atleast as it was locked, and they prob saw trough the scan that it had a ipad inside. I found it curious that the other one had a leaflet and this one didn't even tho it was opened. YES a bag handler could've done it but then again it was easier for them (as prob it arrived late at the luggage hold/plane) to open another luggage. I'm pretty sure someone that knew what was inside did it. Or maybe some bag handler did it after getting info from the person that does the scanning of luggage.

But yeah... You can never know as the whole process is unclear. You don't know who gets to see the luggage and if there is any supervisers/CCTV etc.

Putting in a complaint to tsa is pretty useless imo.

This is a better way:

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/201210 ... that.shtml

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christoph ... 27834.html

"Nearly 400 TSA agents have been fired specifically for theft since 2003".

even checking in last minute things could still go missing at the UK end before bags are loaded onto the arrival belt.

Personally, I've never had my hand luggage weighed before a virgin flight, so as long as it isn't one of those "pushing the limits of hand luggage size" which some travellers seem to insist that they have, then it will get onboard, especially if you can fit it in, a ipad won't make a difference...

And I have had my hand luggage weighed, it was not pushing any boundary, it weighed 4kg when the limit was 6kg, so was not pushing any limit I can tell, but still got weighed. YMMV.