Tired of my bags getting searched when flying to America.

Ciba · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:04

Before flying to America I was told by a friend who works for British Airways that the American's can break into your cases to search if they have any need to or as part of random inspections.

So it doesn't matter if it's locked or not.

Souness · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:05

I think I'm going to try reverse psychology. Instead of making my case inconspicuous I'm gonna plaster it with stickers.

POB · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:07

Mat said:
I'm obviously being a little dense here... how do they get into your case then?

You can get TSA approved locks that the American airport people have a master key to unlock.

Which opens and closes without damage.

whitecrook · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:09

Souness said:
I don't look like a terrorist

What do terrorists look like ?

antijoke · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:10

whitecrook said:
What do terrorists look like ?

Generally speaking, of middle eastern appearance.

Rroff · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:11

Friend of mine was silly enough to fly with one of these in his luggage:

http://www.bethblog.com/index.php/2008/06/06/fallout-3-survivial-edition-own-your-own-pip-boy/

That took some explaining...

TJM · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:13

Souness said:
I always thought you were advised to leave your case unlocked, in case they want to search it.

Yup, if they want to search your case and it's locked then they will force it.

Checked baggage should be unlocked and anything worth stealing should be in your carry-on.

whitecrook said:
What do terrorists look like ?

'What do smugglers look like?' is a better question. Airport security is (in theory) about more than stopping terrorism.

TommyV · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:15

padlock it up. Have never had mine searched as a result!

Redman · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:18

anticonscience said:
Generally speaking, of middle eastern appearance.

You'd have thought the whole 'Irish thing' would have been easier to stop then - those foreign types should have stood out in Belfast

Dave M · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:19

Do you by any chance look like this:

?

Feek · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:23

TommyV said:
padlock it up. Have never had mine searched as a result!

Whether it's padlocked or not, if they want to get in it and search it, they will. You'd get a case back with a broken lock/zip/fastening/whatever and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it.

hurfdurf · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:28

Never had my bags searched, have only twice been selected from the line to receive a more thorough pat down, feels good bro.

D.P. · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:33

anticonscience said:
Generally speaking, of middle eastern appearance.

I was going to say Irish, Spanish, Sri Lankan, Chinese, Greek, Peruvian, Mexican, American, British.

RomanNose · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:43

It's probably because they don't like your overclockers posts.

simpletom · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:50

You took a 'gaming' mouse to America?

Cosimo · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:50

You just have that certain look which makes them itch.

sHo0sH · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:51

Do you have an asian sounding name?

EG Mohammed Sajid

Kotu · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:58

maybe the lack of a lock made the security think your bag an easy target for smugglers/terrorists. Would be easy for a third party to sneak something into your luggage if it isn't secure.

KNiVES · 22 Nov 2011 at 17:02

anticonscience said:
Generally speaking, of middle eastern appearance.

I'd like to add that Al-Zawahiri has said he now has white people in Al-qaeda ready to carry out plans. I should also add that nearly every single significant foiled plot in America were carried out by... you guessed it, white men.

qqg3 · 22 Nov 2011 at 17:06

Its probably only because you are going into/out of the country. It's happened to me numerous times on entry or exit but flying domestically within the US they are somewhat more relaxed some of the time. They're just more ruthless at the ports of entry as it were.