Same, I haven't heard about this for years. I looked at doing it when I was a lot younger but that was also a different time in scrutiny in air travel.

If it still is around, then as I understand it, you're not actually responsible for clearing the "luggage" through customs, so could care less if the US Immigration and Customs service "likes" it or not if you're carrying sn American passport, they can't do anything more than a thorough search. You've got nothing to hide and they've got nothing to find. Budget a bit more time at the connecting airport if you feel more comfortable and be done with them.


There are plenty of people on Flyertalk who are in and out if the US weekly if not more frequently, lots of normal people have jobs like this. You were out of the country for a meeting and that's all they need to know.