Newsstand - Now they want us to keep our checked bags unlocked??

From today's NY Times... I'll be FedExing my luggage if this goes through...

Tough Issues on Baggage Screening Remain

By MATTHEW L. WALD

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 — Airport security screeners are about to begin opening hundreds of thousands of pieces of checked baggage every day, but key questions about security and liability have not been resolved, government officials and airline and airport executives say.

The Transportation Security Administration, created by Congress a year ago, is supposed to screen all checked baggage for bombs beginning Jan. 1, but the two
main ways it will do the job require that many bags be opened. Among the unresolved issues is how screeners would open locked bags, who would be responsible if
a traveler claimed that something inside was stolen or damaged, and who would have to get the bag to its owner if the security search caused the bag to miss the flight.

The airlines, which sometimes spend more than $100 to deliver a suitcase to the owner if the bag misses the original flight, are particularly concerned with who would
pay if the missed flight was the fault of security and not the airline. But another issue is the new procedure for searching bags, largely out of the owner's presence.

The issue is so sensitive that there is even debate over who will tell the public. The airlines believe that the solution is for passengers not to lock their bags, but they
want the government to announce that to the public. The airlines also want the government to tell travelers that it is the government, and not the airlines, that will be
conducting the searches.


http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/05/national/05BAG.html



[This message has been edited by nr10022 (edited 11-05-2002).]

Maybe UAL and US will go belly-up before 1 Jan and avoid the rush...

If it gets bad (and it will), my hat's off to the enterprising company (like FedEx) who can ship luggage nearly as fast as the airlines. Didn't someone start a thread about a separate cargo plane with everybody's luggage??? Tongue-in-cheek becomes reality?

[This message has been edited by FliesWay2Much (edited 11-05-2002).]

I guess I am done checking luggage for good. There is no way I am going to trust the TSA to open my baggage out of my sight. Thankfully, there are many fine package delivery companies whose rates are less than the oversize baggage fees imposed by the airlines.

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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Spiff:
Thankfully, there are many fine package delivery companies whose rates are less than the oversize baggage fees imposed by the airlines.</font>

Bravo! Finally, you are finding a way to surmount the what-you-think-is insurmountable. That's really a change for you. :thumbsup:

My experience, with lots of international travel, is that they already open your bag. And if I locked the bag? They just snipped off the zipper. I'm a softie- never did try to get them to pay for the damage to my bags. So now? I use string - to keep the zipper from accidentally opening, and to keep them from damaging the bag if they want to cut the string and open it. I've never had anything stolen from the bag, thankfully.

How sad. Let's just ban all checked luggage all together...

My experience is quite different. I fly, mostly to/from Europe, and often use a large plastic trunk which I close with lots of strapping tape or duct tape. *Once* I got the trunk with the tape cut (and they had put a strapping belt around it to make up for it). And, in that case, the trunk missed my connection in Amsterdam, and came on a later flight, which *may* be why they opened it.

And yes, I have done with post September 11 - I have flown Helsinki/USA four times since then, and several times within the USA.

Jaelle

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If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world, and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. - E.B. White

I trust the TSA just as much as the TSA trusts me.

Not to worry, now that the US House and Senate are under unified control it'll get fixed in no time. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

If this wasn't so sad (and most likely to come to pass) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif I might really be http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif...OK, so I am http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif What was the line in the movie Network. I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more. I just need to figure out what to do about it other than FedEx and no checked luggage. Sorry I like my good locks and intend to keep using them! TSA stikes another blow for liberty and freedom. Why is the solution to creat MORE problems for the flying public rather than fixing what is wrong? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by snake:
I trust the TSA just as much as the TSA trusts me.

Not to worry, now that the US House and Senate are under unified control it'll get fixed in no time. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif</font>

Please tell us the last note was "tongue in cheek".

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NoStressHere:
Please tell us the last note was "tongue in cheek".</font>

I've already written emails this morning asking that the silly experiment known as the TSA be disbanded and turned over to private enterprise. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks so much.

I hardly ever check bags anyway but now I'll have a higher level of probability of my unpilfered bag getting to my destination on time and with less hassle.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by anonplz:
Bravo! Finally, you are finding a way to surmount the what-you-think-is insurmountable. That's really a change for you. :thumbsup:</font>



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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

Good point.

Strike while the iron is hot, so to speak. The hangovers should start abating by Thursday so we ought to get on our members of Congress about what needs to be fixed.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by FWAAA:
I've already written emails this morning asking that the silly experiment known as the TSA be disbanded and turned over to private enterprise. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>



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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry