Originally Posted by
Evan!
I suspect you are smelling something else that is reminding you of cigarette smoke. For your clothes to absorb cigarette smoke (and thus the smell) your bag would need to be open and in a room for a long period of time with a smoker. I doubt that baggage handlers or security screeners are allowed to smoke in the rooms where they work. Europe has been moving very fast on anit-smoking laws. France has jumped several steps in just one year. Their laws are now more restrictive than Florida's (although Florida will catch up this year). From which EU city were you traveling? Was your bag delayed a few days? I have never found the little note from security when traveling from Europe even though I was 100% sure my bag had been opened.
I am not claiming to know what is causing the smell but I seriously doubt it is actually cigarette smoke. Just my 2 cents.
I usually fly out of TXL directly to JFK. I also thought that JFK is a non-smoking airport. France is the opposite, although they have fully implemented the EU directive for not smoking, there are several places where the employees smoke in the airport at CDG. Same goes for AMS, you definitely smell it when you leave through the basement. My bags were indeed delayed in JFK. I am still pretty sure that this really is cigarette smell but who knows what causing it.
Judging by the replies that may just be my overreaction or maybe my sport shoes I have in there :-)