Originally Posted by
tmac100
I am VERY skittish about flying into or through the USA because of utter destruction of clothes, etc when I returned to Canada from SYD via LAX in 2006. My clothes and cookies - yes, Tim-Tams - were basically destroyed during a TSA "inspection". I had little wear-and tear during a 2500 km bicycle trip in the AU outback, but the TSA certainly destroyed some of my stuff at the LAX inspection in 2006. I did not discover the damage until I arrived back home in YWG.
That said, I found excellent WT+ fares onto Chicago (from the Middle earth) and I could then take AMTRAK to/from the west coast of the USA, BUT wonder if I should instead fly into/out of YVR and go overland into/out of the USA, and bicycle along the west USA coast.
The hesitancy is based on the "for sure" TSA "inspections" in Chicago upon arrival from LHR ...
Is there any way I can be present at their inspections to watch and see if they are doing anything "untoward" with my bicycle stuff, etc? At land inspections I can be present and can observe. There was NO "transparency" in the inspection process at LAX and I lost out ...
Just wondering for some plans in the furure
Bring your important stuff in your carry-on. If you fly into Chicago, you're probably best off flying to the west coast from there, as Amtrak is slower and more expensive than flying most of the time.