Bag out of site - now what
 

Reading another post brought up a question. What is the course of events that happens if at check-in if you say your bag has been out of your site? Do they search it? Whatever they do, I'm sure you will be there a while.

I *think* I answered wrong one time and my hand and checked luggage were specially tagged, and I'm sure in the case of my checked more thorougly searched than usual ...

I don't think you'd be detained necessarilly, particularly if your baggage was only out of your control (come on, who hasn't lied to this question?) ... asked to carry on something by someone unknown is a different story ...

At Midway I one time said " well it was with the bell desk". the guy said that wasn't what we meant but opened it up and searched the whole thing. I've never said that again http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Once at SNA (Orange County), I replied that it had been out of my control (in rental car while it was valet parked) just to see what would happen. The gate agent looked very annoyed, then took me and my bag back to the x-ray machine (which I had just passed through not two minutes before) and placed the bag on the belt. When it came out, she gave it back to me and we went straight back to the gate and she finished checking me in.

If they seriously did something about it, I wouldn't mind the question, but to see uselessness of the additional security tells me that, IMHO, the security questions are a complete waste of time.

got off ship in venice recently. flew ba to lgw. no questions were asked in venice. bags checked to dfw. at lgw, lengthly chat @ aa check in. had bags been out of our control? yes, they were on the dock while waited for bus to airport. this was not a problem [the bags were checked thru] but the questioning went on and on as usual. there should be an automatic death penalty if one is caught w/ terrorist stuff. i'm sure that the security efforts aren't cost effective....... my favorate security tale [circa 1974] when they rooted thru your carry on. the lady who was rooting thru our dirty underwear held up a half filled pint of booze. then made the comment "traveling salesman eh"

[This message has been edited by clacko (edited 07-19-2001).]

Rudi recounted his experience when he answered completely truthfully once. He did it also to find out what would happen. Only once. Now he keeps his bags under his control.

That it is a complete waste of time is proven when I fly nowadays, in AMS they don't even bother to ask me any more and when I check in at JFK the last 2 times I had the same agent who said "did you pack the bag yourself bla bla bla..."I replyed no, no and no, he was happy with that, don't know what the FAA would think of it...

x




[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited 07-19-2001).]

these rules/questions/answers made all of us (I quote PremEx):

'Frequent Liars'

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 07-19-2001).]

Years ago as a frequent MSP traveller, I was shown by an annoyed security guard how to get through the Xray gate to the Pier without setting the alarms off.

I used to wear cowboy boots, which had metal buckles, and these set the alarms off every day. So, yes, I do wonder how effective most security at airports is.

I mean do they honestly expect someone who has a disruptive intent to answer honestly !

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Continental Airlines
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
NorthwestAirlines

If it's been out of your site, probably nothing, but if it's been out of your sight, then maybe Gary saw it.

-David

This past Sunday, headed DCA-PVD via US, this really happened:
Agent: Are you checking any luggage?
Me: No, I have no luggage.
Agent: Did you pack your luggage yourself?
Me (surprised): I have no luggage.
Agent: Has your luggage been out of your control at any time since you packed it?
Me: I said I have no luggage.
Agent (doggedly): Has your luggage been out of your control at any time since you packed it?
Me (exasperatedly): Ma'am, I HAVE no luggage!!
Agent: Well, we are required to ask anyway. Please answer if your luggage has been out of your control at any time since you packed it.
Me (gazing directly into eyes of agent):
Agent: Well, have you had your handbag with you at all times today?

ShuttleBug, your story was worth a chuckle this morning!

ShuttleBug:

If I had been in your shoes, I would have said that my bags HAD been out of sight, and see what they did ..

Do they do a search of the "imaginary bags" ??

I did a lunch run with my dad to ORD a couple of weeks ago. Dad flew in from MKE with just a paperback, I flew in with just my backpack. He didn't remark about any unusual questions, but he did say that going through the security gate, the guy actually paged through his book once or twice.