Travel Question/ Suitcase question

[canman]

I'm not sure what category this might go in, but here goes anyway. I know that a lot of you FG travel a fair amount and would like to direct this question to you. My wife's brother just returned from the States, Las Vegas to be exact. He was there buying stuff for his Native American goods shop. Anyway, he filled his suitcase to the brim, and then locked it and put one of those bands on it, wanting to protect his stuff. When he arrived at Narita, and went to pick up the suitcase, the strap was cut off, and the lock had been snapped. There was a letter taped to it explaining that security needed to open the case and they now had the right to break it yada yada yada, and that he is not entitled to any kind of compensation. Now I tell you this in all honesty, this story was not told to me by a friends friend or anything like that. And my brother-in-law is not one to exagerate. He also flys to the States two or three times a year to buy the jewellry etc. I'm not sure about the legality of his actions, ie customs et al, but nothing was taken, and when he did go through customs, they didn't even bat an eye when he wheeled up with his mess of a suitcase.
So my question is has this happened to anyone else? And if so what did you do?
Sorry for the kind of long post.

[kamome]

I know this has happened to cstaylor, so I'm sure he'll have something to add. We all know that our privacy interest in our own luggage disappeared after 9/11. But even before that, Japanese customs always reserved the right to open packages sent by mail into the country to check for contraband. I think there is nothing your bro' can do to protest the opening of his luggage.

As far as compensation goes, it wouldn't be worth the time and money to sue for a new suitcase (assuming nothing of value was broken or destroyed). I think he'll have to suck up the 10,000 yen and buy himself a new Samsonite.

[Caustic Saint]

If you check a locked suitcase the TSA agents will do whatever they have to to open it if they feel they need to search your luggage.

The only way to check a locked suitcase is to tell the ticket agent you wish to do so. After your luggage is weighed and tagged, you have to take it over to a TSA screening station where it will go through an xray machine and possibly be hand searched. Once the TSA agents are done with it, you may lock it back before it goes to the plane.

I had to do exactly this last fall when I flew from Seattle to Korea. My suitcase came out right away (from the screening station) but they took at least 20 minutes with my backpack. I'd imagine it looked pretty weird on the xray since I had all kinds of computer cables and other geeky/techy stuff in there.

Once luggage has passed the screeners, they put a little tag on it to indicate it's been checked and that it's safe to load it on the plane.

[cstaylor]

I know this has happened to cstaylor, so I'm sure he'll have something to add.

Yeah, those damn TSA goons ripped the hell out of my suitcase. Here's a word of advice: buy your tickets with a credit card that offers flight insurance (AMEX is one), and make the credit companies go after the gubmint for wrecking your stuff. I foolishly bought the ticket with cash, so I'm stuck buying a new suitcase... but I will be sure to vote Kerry in November, 'cause it's the BushCo administration that wrecked my stuff.

[Big Booger]

I know this has happened to cstaylor, so I'm sure he'll have something to add.

Yeah, those damn TSA goons ripped the hell out of my suitcase. Here's a word of advice: buy your tickets with a credit card that offers flight insurance (AMEX is one), and make the credit companies go after the gubmint for wrecking your stuff. I foolishly bought the ticket with cash, so I'm stuck buying a new suitcase... but I will be sure to vote Kerry in November, 'cause it's the BushCo administration that wrecked my stuff.

Can you honestly set there and say that.. really.. you blame Bush? I'd be more likely to blame Bin Laden, those f'in hijackers, or even crappy baggage screeners..

I respect privacy. But I'd rather have my privacy violated and know that a fucking bomb is not on the plane.
LOL

[AssKissinger]

The problem is your brother-in-law is a dip shit. You might not know this but there was a terrorist attack on NYC in 2001 involving airplanes. Since that time there has been heightened security in American airports and on airplanes. Therefore, you just can't lock a suitcase up and expect no one to look inside. There might be something called a 'bomb' inside. A 'bomb' is an explosive device that could destroy the airplane and kill the people on board. In American airports there are only about a million warning signs to alert people to this kind of thing.

[AssKissinger]

I respect privacy. But I'd rather have my privacy violated and know that a fucking bomb is not on the plane.

Word

[Caustic Saint]

The problem is your brother-in-law is a dip shit.

It's not entirely the BIL's fault. The counter agent should have explained the new procedures to him. I wasn't aware of the new rules until I went to check in for my flight to Korea. The clerk asked if either of my bags were locked. I said they were and that I wasn't comfortable checking them unlocked. She told me how to go to the screeners' station myself and I went through the above mentioned procedure.

The BIL's situation was completely avoidable. He's not a "dipshit" for not knowing the new procedures.

[cstaylor]

Can you honestly set there and say that.. really.. you blame Bush?

Fuck yeah I do, those cheap bastards could have forced San Jose airport's counter people to do a security check BEFORE I leave my lugguage, because I have my key handy. Narita does it properly... but for some reason the TSA losers think that they can just destroy people's property for "national security" reasons. I have no problem with them opening my lugguage, but destroying the locks is completely asinine.

Score one for the Japanese... they handle lugguage security properly.

[Caustic Saint]

Score one for the Japanese... they handle lugguage security properly.

When I went through Haneda last month they x-rayed my bag before I even got to the counter. If they wanted to take a closer look at somebody's bag they had them open it up right then and there. That's how it should be done. (If they don't have a separate station set up like at SeaTac.)

When I flew out of Incheon last year they also did some handchecking of luggage before people even got to the counter.

Seems like the Japanese and the Koreans are running plays from the same gook. Good on them - at least they're using the book that makes sense.

[American Oyaji]

[Caustic Saint]

Seems like the Japanese and the Koreans are running plays from the same gook.

Well, if you're gonna make a typo, it may as well be a good one.

(Actually, "guk" is used to mean "people" in Korean when referring to some nationalities. Korean - hanguk. American = miguk.)

[sakugenken]

I was in Florida in August and there were signs all over the airport warning you not to lock your suitcase because if you did, they would just break it open.
I watched them at the "checking station" (you had to watch from a distance, behind a ropeway, some of the new laws seem pretty pointless) because my suitcases were pretty stuffed and I wanted to make sure there was no problem. They rifled through one that had our dirty clothes, my son had wet his pants that morning before leaving for the airport. They closed it up and went right on to the next suitcase (not ours) without missing a beat.
I imagined that other person unpacking at home; "Honey, what's that smell...."

[Big Booger]

Can you honestly set there and say that.. really.. you blame Bush?

Fuck yeah I do, those cheap bastards could have forced San Jose airport's counter people to do a security check BEFORE I leave my lugguage, because I have my key handy. Narita does it properly... but for some reason the TSA losers think that they can just destroy people's property for "national security" reasons. I have no problem with them opening my lugguage, but destroying the locks is completely asinine.

Score one for the Japanese... they handle lugguage security properly.

So basically it is a procedural issue? I can't see how Bush and Company can be held responsible for the idiocy of some baggage screeners and customs clerks

I think you are stretching it a bit much to hold Senor Bush responsible.. Iraq yes, cutting the lock off of your suitcase.. c'mon.

[canman]

According to your post because of 9/11, my brother-in-law should know not to lock his suitcase. But if you read my earlier post, he has been travelling to the US for business two or three times a year, every year. Now I don't know about where you are from but September 11th, 2001, and January 22, 2004, seem a little spread out for me. So does that mean for the past three years they haven't been screening bags, and now all of a sudden they have started, a little late wouldn't you say.
Also, all the check in clerk had to do was look at the bag and say, "er sir, could you remove the strap and unlock it please", would that have been so hard.
Also I mentioned he is bringing back jewelry and other fairly expensive items, that he doesn't want stolen, and goodness knows nothing ever gets stolen from suitcases in US airports.
CS, how long ago did they ruin your suitcase, and what airline did you fly? My b-i-l was flying Korean Air.

[Manarak]

the idiocy of some baggage screeners and customs clerks

This expression is pleonasmic, especially when talking about US customs.

[cstaylor]

CS, how long ago did they ruin your suitcase, and what airline did you fly? My b-i-l was flying Korean Air.

The jackbooted thugs destroyed my lugguage for the fatherland last May, flying out of San Jose International into Tokyo during an Orange Alert. It probably doesn't make a difference, but I was flying American Airlines.

[cstaylor]

So basically it is a procedural issue? I can't see how Bush and Company can be held responsible for the idiocy of some baggage screeners and customs clerks

I think you are stretching it a bit much to hold Senor Bush responsible.. Iraq yes, cutting the lock off of your suitcase.. c'mon.

Rotten from the top down. And since I'm not in Iraq and have no stakes in Halliburton and friends, what happens in Bagdad doesn't have as much of an effect on me as having my lugguage destroyed by jackbooted Bushists on a power trip. Bush has already cost me several hundred dollars in destroyed lugguage, so it's time for him to get the boot.

Fortunately for you right-of-center members, I'm a Californian, so it's a given that's we're a blue state, so my vote won't tip the balance for delegates.

[tidbits]

It happened to me just about a month ago when I reached my home country except there wasn't any letter attached to explain anything. It was just a canvas bag locked with a 100 Yen shop lock. I lost nothing except the lock, so I didn't make any complaint.

During my departure at the Nagoya airport, handling of checked in luggage was fine, but not so well when comes to screening of hand luggage. When they found a small nail cutter in my friend's pouch, they wanted him to gave up the cutter (it was a really small one with no knife attached). Only after my friend insisted he had being carrying with him many times in the plane, they asked him to fill up a simple form/ envelope and said they will return it to him upon landing. I thought they should have done that in the first place.

There is an article here from someone very unhappy about the security system in the airport (although not related to luggage) : http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig3/monahan1.html

[Cubed]

The scene: Munich Airport, circa 1997
The actors: Myself (as myself) and my ex-boss (a dickhead called Adrian)

Bored Customs Official: "You cannot take zat on ze plane"
Me: "Why?"
BCO: "You can hijack a plane with string"
Me: "I think I'd rather use the craft knife here"
BCO: "Zat is a small knife it is no problem - ze string you cannot take with you"
Me: "Okay, you keep the string. Can I have a customs receipt* ?"
BCO: "We cannot give you a customs receipt for this"
Me: "You have to. Or I must be allowed to board with it. Otherwise you could be confiscating my string to use yourself."
(brief pause)
BCO: "We will make an exception in this case. You can take the string with you"

* In the EU, when a customs official confiscates something, they MUST offer a customs receipt. If they insist on confiscating something, you can insist on a receipt.

Stupid customs officials are nothing new. Dubya's "Izlamites are th'enemy" quest is just McCarthyism recooked and foul tasting. So nothing new there either.

[Naniwan Kid]

We just rode over the winter break. They asked "Is your bag locked" and I said "yes". Next thing we knew we were getting frisked by security, and the whole bit. DON'T lock that bag, and keep all valubles in the carry-ons

[Big Booger]

So basically it is a procedural issue? I can't see how Bush and Company can be held responsible for the idiocy of some baggage screeners and customs clerks

I think you are stretching it a bit much to hold Senor Bush responsible.. Iraq yes, cutting the lock off of your suitcase.. c'mon.

Rotten from the top down. And since I'm not in Iraq and have no stakes in Halliburton and friends, what happens in Bagdad doesn't have as much of an effect on me as having my lugguage destroyed by jackbooted Bushists on a power trip. Bush has already cost me several hundred dollars in destroyed lugguage, so it's time for him to get the boot.

Fortunately for you right-of-center members, I'm a Californian, so it's a given that's we're a blue state, so my vote won't tip the balance for delegates. ]

Microlevel thinker

[cstaylor]

Microlevel thinker

"All politics is local", former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil.

[Big Booger]

Microlevel thinker

"All politics is local", former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil.

Tell that to Howard Dean LOL Mr. Internet Politician.

[cstaylor]

Tell that to Howard Dean LOL Mr. Internet Politician.

Yeah, well, we saw how well that went... "YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHH!"

[Big Booger]

Tell that to Howard Dean LOL Mr. Internet Politician.

Yeah, well, we saw how well that went... "YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHH!"

LMAO.

[gpvillamil]

At work we have a lot of people travelling back and forth, and we got a lot of info about not locking our bags.

Simple solution?

Buy a bunch of cheap plastic cable ties (I think 100 yen will buy you 50), and use those to secure your bags. It keeps your bag closed, and at the same time makes it easy & obvious how to open and search. If you leave some in an outside pocket of your bag, you'll always have them at hand.

Another useful tip - get a bunch of those nylon mesh packing bags at Muji and use them to organize your bags. Makes it easy to repack the bag after a search. Also makes it easier for you to pack & unpack.

I think the TSA folks appreciate it when you make their life easier. I've had my bag searched twice, got a polite note, everything had been repacked correctly, bag resealed, no damage.

[Taro Toporific]

Simple solution?
Buy a bunch of cheap plastic cable ties (I think 100 yen will buy you 50), and use those to secure your bags.

Yep, that's what I do too. One added "protection" is that I use oddly colored cable ties* so I know the bonded TSA guys have opened my bags and not the thieves in baggage handling.
I'm partial to hot pink.:P


* available at stores that sell computer networking supplies for pros

[GomiGirl]

At work we have a lot of people travelling back and forth, and we got a lot of info about not locking our bags.

Simple solution?

Buy a bunch of cheap plastic cable ties (I think 100 yen will buy you 50), and use those to secure your bags. It keeps your bag closed, and at the same time makes it easy & obvious how to open and search. If you leave some in an outside pocket of your bag, you'll always have them at hand.

Another useful tip - get a bunch of those nylon mesh packing bags at Muji and use them to organize your bags. Makes it easy to repack the bag.

Thanks Mum..

(well it is something that my extremely practical mother would say!! - take it as a compliment as she is an outstanding human being!!)

[kamome]

The plastic tie idea is an extremely good one. Also, I've been packing toiletries and other sundries in large Ziploc plastic bags because they are see-through and eliminate the need for TSA to open anything for a search. Instead of buying mesh zippered bags individually at Muji, you can get a box full of Ziploc bags anywhere for a much cheaper price per bag. And they're durable as hell, washable, reusable, and won't leak if your shampoo bottle bursts in transit.