Originally Posted by lg10
It happened to me for the first time on my last flight leg - I unpacked my
suitcase (checked) and found the note that it had been "inspected".
I guess I have a few questions:
1. What do they do when they inspect a bag? Do they handle your stuff?
I had some plastic bags inside my suitcase with the clothes in them, and I
couldn't tell if those were opened/closed or never opened.
(All of the clothes went right into the laundry just in case.)
Much like the x-ray, they are looking to resolve an alarm. Usually they have an idea what it might be (certain shape, for example). There is a possibility that they go thru your stuff if the alarm is at the bottom. They shouldn't be searching like customs though ... they just don't have the time.
2. Do they select bags randomly? If not, what criteria do they use?
As in answer 1, it's usually to resolve some sort of alarm on the CTX machine, or a screener might think something looks odd about your bag.
3. Is there some record of what bags are searched in case something turns up missing from a bag? (This did not happen in my case.)
Not one that's given to pax, if there is one at all. You're always free to file a claim if something comes up missing or damaged though.
4. Does anyone know - when does this inspection happen? One would hope that it is before loading, if they think they might find something bad.
It happens before the bag is sent to the plane. TSA acts as an intermediary to airline counter and the plane. They screen all bags. Sometimes it's behind the scenes. Other times, you'll get the destination tags and then you have to take your bags to the TSA folks manning the CTX. It all depends on how the airport was designed. Some airports just don't have the room behind the scenes so the CTX machines are up front near the check in counters.
Super
5. Are all passenger-checked bags X-rayed also anyway? If so, what is
the purpose of the opening/searching process on top of that? (Or rather,
if it is necessary, why do it so sporadically?)
Thanks for any answers!!
--LG[/QUOTE]