Practical Travel Safety Issues - Do wrapped presents really get unwrapped?

It would be so much easier for me if I could wrap my presents before I leave for my Christmas night flight. It's a redeye so I basically go straight into Christmas #2. Is there any real reason they say not to do this? I don't understand how the machines can see through suitcases but not through a piece of paper.

The only catch is that I'd like to carry some on with me (too valuable to check), and check the unbreakable/bulky presents. Do they really unwrap everything or just if something is suspicious? I've got my dad a GPS unit that I'm not going to wrap because I figure that could look funny on an x-ray, but things like shirts and books seem ridiculous not to wrap ahead of time.

Please continue to follow this thread in the Travel Safety/Security Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Pre 9/11, when security was less uptight, I saw pax have to unwrap wrapped presents to send them through the x-ray machine. I can't imagine that it would be any easier today. If I were you, I'd ship the wrapped packages, rather than carrying them on.

No guarantee one way or the other. They don't have to unwrap them to get them through the x-ray and "see" what's inside. But if they decide it needs further examination then the wrapping will come off.

I've flown from Toronto to the Philippines via Hong Kong in October or November every year since 2003 and have always taken a suitcase full of wrapped presents. I've never had any problems and never been asked to unwrap them.

As with anything security related these days, YMMV and this is only my experience.

Derek

Simple solution: bring the gifts in its form through security without wrappers, but bring a roll of wrappers in your carry on... once past security, wrap your presents. That should work perfectly.

Simple solution: bring the gifts in its form through security without wrappers, but bring a roll of wrappers in your carry on... once past security, wrap your presents. That should work perfectly.

What about the scissors????? :p

If I were you, I'd ship the wrapped packages, rather than carrying them on.

We've been doing that for several years now.

Wrapped them, shipped them FedEx Ground and they are already at my sister's house in the BWI area.

No hassle and no overweight luggage issue for us when we hit the airways this weekend.

Plus it forces us to get the Christmas shopping done early rather than procrastinate.

Simple solution: bring the gifts in its form through security without wrappers, but bring a roll of wrappers in your carry on... once past security, wrap your presents. That should work perfectly.

That's actually a good idea...maybe I could precut the paper too so I'm not having this huge roll of paper and the scissors problem is avoided. Better than sitting in SFO where there is nothing to do except hope to steal internet from somewhere!

However, I think my brother's 3 pound stick of beef is going to get checked and will have to wait to get wrapped!

What about the scissors????? :p

*gasp* I forgot about that! Hmm, like the OP mentioned in the post above, he can pre-cut it. Kinda a pain, but better than nothing.

Wrapping? Use gift bags. Wrapping is a waste of time. It settles your unwrap dilemma here as well. ;)

What about the scissors????? :p

Up to 4 inch scissors are legit now. No problem at all.

Why not use gift bags? Then you don't have to worry about paper, and the item can be taken out of the bag for screening, then put back in the bag after screening.

We've been doing that for several years now.

Wrapped them, shipped them FedEx Ground and they are already at my sister's house in the BWI area.

No hassle and no overweight luggage issue for us when we hit the airways this weekend.

Plus it forces us to get the Christmas shopping done early rather than procrastinate.

I once fedexed several carefully and beautifully wrapped, and carefully packed presents to a friend in the USA by Fedex and they arrived having been unwrapped and then the paper just sort of crumpled back around them. You would think these cretins would have heard of x ray by now.

However, I think my brother's 3 pound stick of beef is going to get checked and will have to wait to get wrapped!

At security: "Um, sorry, but that tasty-looking 3lb of beef looks like it could be used as a weapon. And it's also a liquid if you put it in a blender. I'm afraid we're going to have to confiscate it. Oh, and we're gonna have to confiscate those paper plates and plastic knives, too."

:)

Mike

At security: "Um, sorry, but that tasty-looking 3lb of beef looks like it could be used as a weapon. And it's also a liquid if you put it in a blender. I'm afraid we're going to have to confiscate it. Oh, and we're gonna have to confiscate those paper plates and plastic knives, too."

:)

Mike

That's exactly why it's getting checked! And I don't eat meat so they might arrest me if I refused to prove it was food and not a beef gun.

Come on guys, gift bags? NO FUN.

We've traveled with wrapped presents, mostly checked, but some carry on, and never had a problem. We are aware that there is a slight possibility that some TSAer might decide that some packages need further inspection, and we will need to rewrap, but it's a chance thats always worked out for us so far.

I fly to CPH and back every Jul to bring gifts back and forth between my Svenska relatives. I've always just packed them in my checked luggage and there has been no indication that they've been messed with upon unpacking. I did carry a really expensive Royal Copenhagen plate back in my carry on wrapped last week, but had no problem in CPH or AMS.

I've just arrived in HNL from CMH. Someone at CMH decided to unwrap the books, which were in Barnes and Noble wrapping paper. These were two paperbacks wrapped together. There's no way it could have been anything else.

And the three small bottles of jam and bottle of wine? They ripped the gift bag apart--they weren't even wrapped.

My family, which includes many faces of the political spectrum, agreed that this was quite clearly an act of aggression. "I didn't get the gifts I wanted for Christmas, so I'm going to rip yours up."

Oddly enough, I had just sort of complimented the TSA. They were very polite on yesterday. Perhaps that's because their jerks were all in the baggage makeup room "acting out" their psychiatric problems.

I've just arrived in HNL from CMH. Someone at CMH decided to unwrap the books, which were in Barnes and Noble wrapping paper. These were two paperbacks wrapped together. There's no way it could have been anything else.

And the three small bottles of jam and bottle of wine? They ripped the gift bag apart--they weren't even wrapped.

My family, which includes many faces of the political spectrum, agreed that this was quite clearly an act of aggression. "I didn't get the gifts I wanted for Christmas, so I'm going to rip yours up."

Oddly enough, I had just sort of complimented the TSA. They were very polite on yesterday. Perhaps that's because their jerks were all in the baggage makeup room "acting out" their psychiatric problems.

I suspect the "acts of aggression" - if any - result from TSO's this week being REALLY tired of explaining to many clueless but offended infrequent flyers what has been true for over 6 years: wrapped objects in carry-on bags ARE SUBJECT TO BEING UNWRAPPED. Christmas, birthday, hostess/host presents - nothing is immune, and woe betide you if it has liquid > 3 ounces. It's old and well-publicized news.

I don't like it either, but given the warnings, there's no point in accusing TSO's of "aggression," when they carry out the rule. Be angry about the rule, but don't unduly demonize the poor guys who have to carry it out.

I suspect the "acts of aggression" - if any - result from TSO's this week being REALLY tired of explaining to many clueless but offended infrequent flyers what has been true for over 6 years: wrapped objects in carry-on bags ARE SUBJECT TO BEING UNWRAPPED. Christmas, birthday, hostess/host presents - nothing is immune, and woe betide you if it has liquid > 3 ounces. It's old and well-publicized news.

I don't like it either, but given the warnings, there's no point in accusing TSO's of "aggression," when they carry out the rule. Be angry about the rule, but don't unduly demonize the poor guys who have to carry it out.

Read the post again - it says "baggage makeup room" which I take to mean the items were in checked baggage.

Yes, the books were in checked baggage. And the jam and wine were not wrapped in sealed wrapping paper, just a gift bag with tissue paper. All items--even in checked baggage--are subject to search. We're all aware of that. But this was like peeling a banana to see what's inside.

Yes, it's inference on my part to suggest that it was a psychological outburst that led someone to rip the gift bag and the giftwrapped books. But, judging from prior experience, the TSA has a bend toward hostlity.

Yes, the books were in checked baggage. And the jam and wine were not wrapped in sealed wrapping paper, just a gift bag with tissue paper. All items--even in checked baggage--are subject to search. We're all aware of that. But this was like peeling a banana to see what's inside.

Yes, it's inference on my part to suggest that it was a psychological outburst that led someone to rip the gift bag and the giftwrapped books. But, judging from prior experience, the TSA has a bend toward hostlity.

Sorry for not reading more closely - I understand your annoyance more now! :( I still suspect it was more time pressure than outright hostility, but your hypothesis is more plausible than on my first reading.

Hope the gifts were still well-received!

Sorry for not reading more closely - I understand your annoyance more now! :( I still suspect it was more time pressure than outright hostility, but your hypothesis is more plausible than on my first reading.


Time pressure or not, the TSA should be respectful of passengers and their property. Some are, some are not. Some in TSA and its management seem to have forgotten the cardinal rule that the a'holes are the ones that generate the public image of the agency. By ignoring that cardinal rule, and ignoring complaints, it appears that some in management are giving tacit approval to those that act like jerks. Don't think for a minute that the lack of discipline on the bad actors is overlooked or ignored by the good ones. One rotten apple can ruin the entire bushel.

I have fown a couple times with wrapped presents (though not during the holidays). I have never had a problem but IF they needed to inspect the gift the will most certainly not hesitate to unwrap it.

just as a data point, i traveled iah-sfo on the 22nd with a bunch of wrapped food items--mostly candy--as well as a wrapped book and shaving brush in checked baggage...half expected things to be unwrapped, but all made it through unscathed.

Interesting that I just found this thread. I left on the 4th for a long vacation in Asia. I left from a small airport that I guess does not have a big machine for the checked bag.

Well my very large checked bag was pulled aside, in front of myself and everyone else (tiny terminal) and EVERYTHING was pulled out including my wrapped gifts, which were then unwrapped by the TSA guy.

Such a great way to start my trip! :rolleyes:

Well my very large checked bag was pulled aside, in front of myself and everyone else (tiny terminal) and EVERYTHING was pulled out including my wrapped gifts, which were then unwrapped by the TSA guy.

We flew out of DRO a couple of weeks ago carrying a couple of boxes of wrapped presents from family there for our grandchildren in the Northwest. Too much for carry-on so with no baggage x-ray machine the TSA employee carefully unwrapped and then rewrapped as best she could one box full of presents and gave us a pass on the other.

It would have been a lot quicker if we'd been able to carry the bags on and run them through the machine.

A solution if you're the one who wrapped the gifts is to obviously don't put prohibited items in your carry-on bag; if you know what can and can't go in carry-on bags. The sign about not wrapping gifts is basically there to prevent having that nice wrapping destroyed. Personally this Christmas I opened one wrapped gift because it was a snow house; picture a snow globe in the shape of a house that you put on your window sill. The lady was able to wrap it back, and go check it in with her airline; but it took me some time to get it open neatly.

Flew RDU-IAH-OAK with all my gifts wrapped yesterday(carrry-on) not a single problem

Horse Glasses, wow lucky brother-a 3# stick o' beef

Has anyone taken wrapped gifts in checked or carry-on bags this holiday season? Wondering if they're still hit or miss on being unwrapped. I'm flying FLL-SLC-SNA on 12/24 with tons of wrapped presents. I used cheap paper and no bows, "just in case"...lol

Has anyone taken wrapped gifts in checked or carry-on bags this holiday season? Wondering if they're still hit or miss on being unwrapped. I'm flying FLL-SLC-SNA on 12/24 with tons of wrapped presents. I used cheap paper and no bows, "just in case"...lol
yup, at ORD T2 last weekend, one nice lady very upset...people behind you may not be lol...suggest you do the wrapping when you get there!

We flew out of BHM with some wrapped gifts last week - not a problem. We've had gifts unwrapped in the past, however, so it's probably wise to keep the wrapping simple.

Local news here in PHX did a 'public service'-type reminder story last night about this complete w/interviews w/front line smurfs & x-ray images to properly scare the Kettles into compliance (such as an ice scraper 'looks like a rifle' :rolleyes:). However, when it came time to get the pax side of the story, they only managed to scrape up 1 woman who gave the most grudging 'yeah, I guess...whatever, but I still think it's pretty stupid' response to something she had confiscated (didn't see what it was, sorry).

I've flown with a lot of wrapped presents in my rollaboard carry-on, and never once had them unwrapped by TSA. It's been mostly books and DVDs and other things that should be pretty obvious on the x-ray. I've even had a bag check called on a bag with a wrapped book in it (TSA has become obsessed with my nail clippers after 7 years of not caring about them) by a fairly surly TSO, and she didn't try to have the package unwrapped.

If the presents are something "normal" (i.e. might be found in carry-on normally) that TSA should be able to see on xray, leave them in your bag unless asked to remove them. I doubt TSA can even see that they are wrapped on x-ray. Placing them separately in a tray shows TSA that they are wrapped and eggs-on power-tripping TSOs to unwrap them as a show of force.

If TSA calls a bag check and is concerned about a wrapped item, ask them to re-run the wrapped item and the bag through the x-ray separately. There's a decent chance the item of concern wasn't even in the package, and if it was, that they could see it more clearly when run alone.

If they still decide to unwrap them, it's something that unfortunately you have to tolerate. But if it's an obvious power-trip (i.e., they unwrap a book, or they tear the wrapping paper off a box but never look in the box), document the TSOs involved and file a complaint. The complaint won't go anywhere, but at least you tried.

Presents in checked bags may be more likely to be unwrapped as sticky-fingered TSOs can look to see if there is anything valuable to steal without having to face criticism from the passengers.

Sometimes having wrapped gifts in the bag has its consequences. When I'm called in on a bag search and notice wrapped gifts, I simply remove them from teh bag and xray them seperately. Typically, that resolves any issues without having to unwrap them. In the 6 years I've been with TSA, I've only had to unwrap 1 gift...a knife set.

I've just arrived in HNL from CMH. Someone at CMH decided to unwrap the books, which were in Barnes and Noble wrapping paper. These were two paperbacks wrapped together. There's no way it could have been anything else.

And the three small bottles of jam and bottle of wine? They ripped the gift bag apart--they weren't even wrapped.

My family, which includes many faces of the political spectrum, agreed that this was quite clearly an act of aggression. "I didn't get the gifts I wanted for Christmas, so I'm going to rip yours up."

I kinda doubt it. At smaller airports, without CTX machines, we use a protocol which calls for inspecting all bags to different degrees. If your bag is one of the lucky ones randomly selected for a "full open bag" search, yes we have to unwrap and inspect the gifts. And no, these bags aren't x-rayed, so it's not a matter of being able to clear the bags based on an image on a screen.

As far as the sloppy job we sometimes do in unwrapping/rewrapping gifts in checked bags, keep in mind that we're working with rubber gloves on, which reduces our dexterity somewhat. TSOs may or may not have tape and/or scissors available to help with the job. We may be in a hurry because bags are piling up (especially at this time of year!). And I'm sure some TSOs simply get frustrated because we warn people about the hazards of flying with wrapped gifts, yet they persist in doing it anyway! Sigh! (Although I've never seen anyone make a hash out of someone's gift out of spite, and most of us go to great lengths to try to unwrap and rewrap as carefully as possible. When I worked in checked baggage, I'd scribble my apologies on the bag check note, even though technically this wasn't allowed.)

OK, some advice for the OP: The degree to which your wrapped presents will be searched depends on three factors, 1) the nature of the items, 2) whether they're in checked or carryon baggage, and 3) the size of the airport (which will determine whether checked bags are likely to be searched by hand or put through a CTX, which some smaller airports don't have).

Keeping the above in mind, some general guidelines. I'd definitely put the GPS in the carryon, for security reasons, and unwrapped. The X-ray image of the GPS will have some opaque areas which may trigger a bag search depending on how cluttered the bag is. A novice X-ray operator also might not recognize the GPS (although they're pretty distinctive -- you don't have to see very many to know what they are).

If you're flying out of a large airport, with a CTX, the shirts should be OK in checked baggage, wrapped. Likewise the books, if they're not too thick. (If thick, they could alarm the CTX. Try to scatter them about in the bag, rather than creating a single dense mass.)

If it's a smaller airport, where your bags are likely to be checked by hand, I wouldn't wrap any gifts in checked bags.

Books or shirts should be OK wrapped in your carryon. As Super already said, if there's any question about another item in the bag, it should be easy to clear the gifts by X-raying them separately. Only exception is if you're a selectee (SSSS) in which case the paper probably will have to come off.

Some general guidelines for others: If you're flying out of a large airport which will use CTX on your checked bags, dense objects will cause an alarm. This includes things like packages of batteries, the rechargeable batteries on power tools, thick books, many food items (jams, jellies, salsas, peanut butter, cheese), bowling balls, some ceramic or crystal items, many tools. All of these items are likely to be opened for inspection, so don't wrap them. Remember that valuable items shouldn't be put in checked bags for security reasons.

Sometimes having wrapped gifts in the bag has its consequences. When I'm called in on a bag search and notice wrapped gifts, I simply remove them from the bag and xray them seperately. Typically, that resolves any issues without having to unwrap them. In the 6 years I've been with TSA, I've only had to unwrap 1 gift...a knife set.

I think you're absolutely correct about unwrap the gifts. Because passengers must to be unwrapped during at security checkpoint. Every time when they are arrived into final destination cities, am I correct? I knows all of the policy. In the stats to must to be unwrap during passengers screening before they are onboard the aircraft. I knows TSA is taking own their responsibilities keep our safety. Otherwise, I will expect to keep ensure the airlines safe.

Unfortunately, they are doing their jobs to do screening at checkpoint or even checked the bags, too. It will be wait until the passengers is arrived into the final destination cities will able wrapped it again.

Because passengers must to be unwrapped during at security checkpoint.

Well, we only remove the outer layers from the passengers! ;)

As the worlds worst gift wrapper, I agree with those stating use gift bags

Hm.

Like so many others have said, it depends entirely on what it is. Wrapped presents do not, as a rule, have to be unwrapped. If one requires a search, however, then yeah—might have to open it up.

I've had to open two this year, of the few dozen or so that I've personally seen come in front of me. One of them was interesting; the lady didn't want to know what was inside of it (as the present was for her), so she stood to the side in such a way that the wall of the search table itself blocked her view of what I was doing, while never really leaving. It was interesting.

For me, unwrapping a gift is a surgical process. I whip out a little crafts knife and make precision cuts along the edgings of the tape, then peel back the paper until I've exposed one end completely. Then, the box inside can be slid out of the wrapping paper, while the wrapping paper maintains its general shape. Open the box, check and screen the contents, then the box can, with a little encouragement, slide back into the paper. All that's needed at that point is a couple strips of tape and the package looks good-as-new.

Granted, this process takes several minutes longer than just ripping it open, but it's usually been met with appreciation in years past.

I whip out a little crafts knife...

How do you smuggle the knife past the checkpoint? Inquring minds want to know.

How do you smuggle the knife past the checkpoint?

I don't. It's kept at the checkpoint specifically for this. :P

It's kept at the checkpoint...

And who carried it through the checkpoint?

And who carried it through the checkpoint?

If I had to venture a guess, I'd say it was probably one of the security managers, since he'd have to log it in as well. Exactly when this happened, I couldn't tell ya'. It's been there for several years now.

Along with a small plethora of other things that are needed, but would be considered prohibited if a passenger brought them into the checkpoint.

If I had to venture a guess, I'd say it was probably one of the security managers, since he'd have to log it in as well. Exactly when this happened, I couldn't tell ya'. It's been there for several years now.

Along with a small plethora of other things that are needed, but would be considered prohibited if a passenger brought them into the checkpoint.

Are you possible sure about the policies? I knows all passengers were never hidden the prohibited of the weapons. This is reason why security is taking own responsibility to kept unwrap the gifts.

I knows where the passengers should be wait to rewrap it again while they are arrived into final destinations. Obviously, they need to trustable with the passengers to keep wrapped. Just do it right thing to do but, they were never had a problems with TSA at all.

Sometimes having wrapped gifts in the bag has its consequences. When I'm called in on a bag search and notice wrapped gifts, I simply remove them from teh bag and xray them seperately. Typically, that resolves any issues without having to unwrap them. In the 6 years I've been with TSA, I've only had to unwrap 1 gift...a knife set.

Finally - someone with common sense. ^^ Unless gifts are wrapped in heavy foil paper, there's no reason they can't be xrayed without being unwrapped. How difficult is that to understand? :mad:

Finally - someone with common sense. ^^ Unless gifts are wrapped in heavy foil paper, there's no reason they can't be xrayed without being unwrapped. How difficult is that to understand? :mad:
Sometimes, though, it's not that easy. Depending on some of its contents, unwrapping may be the only recourse. If it contains a lot of metal or a huge battery pack, it can obscure the xray image and require further screening. In most cases, it should be good after xray screening.

For me, unwrapping a gift is a surgical process. I whip out a little crafts knife...
Man, I'm jealous. You guys get to have a small knife? We're stuck with a pair of kindergarten safety scissors!:mad:
Maybe it helps with worker's comp claims, I guess.

Remember that valuable items shouldn't be put in checked bags for security reasons.

See now, this is something I always have a problem with. You can't put valuables in your checked luggage, but you don't always have space to carry them on. If I'm travelling with a camera and a laptop, and want my book and pda on the plane, and have gifts, I'm out of options. And while fed-exing things ahead might work within the US, it's pretty expensive when travelling internationally!

Even with just my laptop bag and a small bag for a book, my pda, spectacles and other essentials I'm worried that they'll want me to gate check my laptop bag. I assume this is just as risky as checking it right in the beginning?

Even with just my laptop bag and a small bag for a book, my pda, spectacles and other essentials I'm worried that they'll want me to gate check my laptop bag. I assume this is just as risky as checking it right in the beginning?
That's an excellent point. I've been more of the advocate of not checking laptops more so to prevent them from being damaged rather than being stolen. I am amazed at how these items are coming up missing so often.
I'm glad my airport screens out in public view. It helps keep the honest man honest. I'm not saying that anyone here would take anything, but it would likely deter temptation.

With gate checking, at least you know that you get your bag back when you land. Then at least you'd know who to go after in the event something goes missing. I would definitely have a lock on my carry-ons if I had to gate check.

You know, I hate the fact that you practically cannot trust anyone anymore. It's sad when you have to padlock everything you own just to ensure that you can get it back.:(