Originally Posted by
aeleva
I tend to pack a lot of cables and electronics on top of each other in my carry on -- mostly because they are too heavy to carry in my backpack. About 50% of the time the bag gets flagged and opened because I've got a camera on top of an AirPort Express on top of an electric toothbrush on top of some cables, etc. In particular, my 3D Connexion mouse/joystick (used for 3D manipulation of solids in CAD) triggers additional screening 50% of the time. Even when they find it and pull it out they have no idea what it is and whether to believe me or not.
Place electronic items with attached cables in their own zip locks, likewise for loose cables & pack a little carefully, scattering items around the luggage so they are not on top of each other. This works for both checked and carry on bags. I find this turns a bag search into a back-up-on the belt at best.
You can put several smaller items into a larger zip lock (i.e. gallon size) -- if they do open your bag, a smaller item doesn't slide to the floor and get lost. If you still carry too much and they keep tearing things apart, an entire gallon bag can be removed from the bag and placed in it's own bin to make they x-ray image simpler.
If the zip locks wear out too often or are too tacky for your tastes, purchase some Eagle Creek or competing gear. The Eagle Creek is more opaque adding to privacy, and preventing anyone from going 'shopping.'
The bags help prolong the life of gear a little, as it's not rubbing against other items and cuts down on cable tangles.