Thanks for the interesting reading. Perhaps I should have gone to the media when it happened to me. Sadly, I suspect it happens more often than the TSA will admit to. I'm just fortunate the airline paid my claim in full (minus the value of the lock that was cutoff, which was only a couple of bucks anyhow).

Personally I believe the amount of the claim should of been deducted from the moron TSA screener(s) which did this... or at least the TSA taking responsibility and offering to pay the claim (or locate & return the contents of my suitcase to me undamaged).

I hear airlines are now starting to deny such claims and are requesting pax file claims with the TSA. It's a pain to file a claim with an airline as it is -- could you just immagine the claim process with the TSA? I wonder how many years it would take the TSA to pay a claim?

The fact the airline baggage folks indicated this was happening to other people is quite disturbing. When you check your luggage, not only do you have to be concerned about baggage handlers stealing stuff, but the TSA stealing and/or misplacing your stuff. No wonder you see people bring everything but the kitchen sink onto aircraft these days as "carry-ons".

Regards,

SDF_Traveler

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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin