In 2003, when I was in the wine business, I went through TSA with a 7" long utility knife that had a full set of backup razor-like blades in the handle. I used a utility knife every day opening wine cases and always tossed it in my purse after work every night, and that’s where it was when I sent my purse through the x-ray machine early one morning.
I was shocked when, in a meeting at my destination, I put my hand in my purse to get a pen for writing tasting notes and felt the distinct handle of the utility knife right on top. I gave it to someone at the tasting as I wasn’t about to fly back with it the next day, but I was actually so upset that I wasn’t stopped by TSA, that I wrote them an email after I returned home and included photos of the utility knife and the time and date that I accidentally took it through security.
I was traveling with a friend once and she got kept in security for over twenty minutes due to having a dove bar in her bag. The guy said the density of the bar caused the issue. She offered to eat it or give it to them but nope, they had to wait for a supervisor.
I was pulled over for a search when I was traveling my then 4 year old D2. She was so upset by them going through my bags that she started crying and kept on saying, “ don’t touch mommy’s stuff.” I have never seen inspectors move so fast to get us out of there.
Last month I was going through a very busy TSA with crowded lines backing up between putting your belongings in a bin, and then getting the body scan. It was very early morning and so I thoughtlessly left one item in my pocket, subconsciously counting it as a normal thing to have in my pocket, something that I didn’t need to put in the bin.
My carryon is far ahead of me now, and I step onto the scanning footprints, legs spread far apart as I am rather petite, and the TSA guy says firmly: “what is in your pocket - take it out slowly and hold it up, clearly, above your head.”
At that moment I realized that in my pre-caffeine, 4:45am state I was treating the TSA line more like real life, where this item in your pocket is considered personal, and a normal thing to keep in your pocket. Sigh.
So, there I was, surrounded by hundreds of people, and I said: “it’s a tampon,” and I slowly raised it up over my head and stood there in that pose—a single tampon high in the air— as the camera went over me again, and then slowly walked towards him, tampon extended.
He was about as thrilled about this early morning exchange as I was
Wow! I didn’t know the TSA could open checked baggage. I’ve never heard of that happening. The only thing I’m aware of is dogs sniffing for drugs. I’ve been pulled out of the TSA line a couple of times, but didn’t know they could also open checked bags. I rarely check luggage and then only clothing, but good to know.
About a year after 9/11, I was traveling with our four-year-old who had his toy police bag in his little roller bag. Unfortunately, the handcuffs in there were real, a gift from my LEO brother. TSA was not amused.
They also look for bombs or things that can catch fire during the flight. If something looks suspicious on the X-ray, they want to look inside.
In some places outside the US, I have seen the checked bag inspection happen where passengers can see it happening and where passengers can be called to open the bag if the inspectors want a look inside.
Years ago I did have a checked bag opened (so this is not something new - pretty sure this was before 9/11). They have to indicate it was opened (some kind of tag/sticker). It was just really messy inside (I had packed it neatly), nothing missing.
Correct. You’re supposed to have TSA approved locks, else they can break them if they need to inspect your bag for any reason (I learned that the hard way ~20 years ago).
I’ve had my bags opened on a couple of other occasions but I have no idea why. They just left a notice letting us know the bag had been opened, but nothing was taken, emptied out, etc.
They leave a note inside to tell you they did, and as I recall (it’s been a while) they will also mark on there if they removed anything. This is why if you lock your luggage it’s suggested you use a TSA lock, so they won’t break another lock you may have. (Edit, I see others mentioned this last point already)
I have had TSA inspect my checked bags several times (always leaving a form to indicate they did so). The only thing I’ve ever noticed missing afterwards was a digital thermometer. I have no idea why anyone would have wanted to steal that.
I’ve heard too many stories about the TSA breaking the TSA locks so I don’t bother with them. We check luggage whenever we go on hiking vacations because you can’t carry on hiking poles. So far (fingers crossed) they don’t get flagged.
