Originally Posted by Bart

At the checkpoint: The actual policy is to do one or the other. Screeners should ask you first if you prefer to repack your bag or if you want them to repack it. Here's the catch, we are not obligated to pack it the exact same way you packed it. There are reasonable limits, of course, for fragile items or other items of particular concern. However, I've had passengers insist that I pack it exactly as they did, and I politely repeated the offer that they can repack it if they want it done a certain way.

At checked baggage: you have no option. The screener repacks the bag. Period.

Having said this, TSA policy is that we repack it as neatly as possible and not just stuff everything inside the bag. This isn't always an easy thing to do. Some bags are real Rubic's cubes: we know they fit because it's how we found it, but for some reason they won't repack the same way. Again, as I said, there are some passengers who are so picky that it tends to be frustrating to repack the bag that it's just plain easier if they repack it themselves.

I encourage you to write the FSD of that particular airport and complain about how you were treated. Screeners are not supposed to just walk away without making any attempt to offer to repack the bag.