Originally Posted by
mahohmei
Next time I fly, I will most likely carry on a backpack and check a suitcase. My plan:
Right after check-in, go to a seat near ticketing, out of view of the TSA checkpoint. I will dump my pockets and cell phones, except for my boarding passes and passport, into the backpack, then secure the backpack with a non-TSA combination padlock. I might even put my shoes in my backpack at ticketing. I don't have a laptop, so that won't be a problem.
No emptying my pockets at the checkpoint. I will place, on the X-ray belt, a locked backpack with all my metal stuff in it, walk through the WTMD, and grab my backpack on the other end. Yes, I know that a determined TSO could break into a backpack quite easily, but they'll go for the lower-hanging fruit, like wallets in bins.
This is exactly what I did in January, although I simply untied my shoes rather than put them in my backpack (PacSafe). I pulled my laptop and kippie out, and then put my purse, phone, iPod, and jewelry inside the main compartment and locked it up and headed to the the TDC. I had left my front pocket unlocked until I passed the TDC, and verified I didn't need my ID and BP any longer. I then locked up these items in the front pocket, put my kippie and shoes in the bin, then the laptop then my locked backpack. I thought it worked out well, although I wasn't selected for the NOS (and I'm not complaining!). If I had to undergo a patdown, almost everything of value being locked up does provide a little bit of peace of mind.
I'll read others' suggestions as to the order of the backpack, kippie, etc. as every little bit of info helps as to keeping ones possessions secure. And I'm curious as to others' experiences with netbooks. I'm travelling Saturday with a laptop, but my trip to Italy in the fall will be with a netbook and I already dread being screamed at even though the website says it can stay in the bag.