1st time poster ,, GREAT FORUM,

I feel your pain for the bag search, I recently had the same trouble, I had my fishing gear well packaged for the airlines. My bags were trashed from end to end, they even dumped and broke clear fishing tackle boxes, so my clothes were full of hooks and sinkers, the search is no problem for me and I completely understand. The treatment my property receives leave me feeling like I want a job with no accountability for my actions. They busted the zipper and used plastic ties and tape to put it back together. I did not have locks on anything.

I have been treated by far with more respect and handled in a much better manner in Colombia South America than I have in my own country.
In SA they have you present when your bags are searched and also help you repack. They search everyone. They always ask if your bags have been with you since you packed them. I know my bags went to two different airports before they were searched in the US, so what's the point to search bags after so many people have been in control of them. I think we should be allowed to be present and everyone should be able to see the bags being searched.

The funniest thing was TSA asking 20 questions as we were boarding the plane to leave the country, like what hotel will you be in, what is the purpose of your trip, how long, and the best one was, where are you going? I wanted to say your joking( heres your sign, like the comedian). This was happening while we were boarding the plane. I ask the TSA guard, who cares we are leaving in 20 minutes,,<no really who cares>, we will not be in the USA for any of this to matter to TSA.
I also ask some questions to the guard, why not worry about the people coming in to the country ummm do think that would matter. He said it was standard procedure to question outgoing passengers. Duh our tax-dollars are going were?
TSA says on there website to not pack any valuables in your checked bags, If it were only that easy, I think they need to stop and see the reality of everything thats going on.