Post-its for screeners?
Mar 17, 2014 | 9:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan, AAdvantage
Posts: 2,107
Post-its for screeners?
A few things need be in certain order in my suitcase. For eg. there's a monitor, packed in a nice carrier and lying on my trusty pillow. The carrier has a shield so the back plate of the monitor goes on the pillow (the back plate is just plastic, not as fragile as the screen itself but still). So do you think the screener would be OK with a post it note on the shield "this side up please" or just out of spite they would still put it face down? Also, when you see the TSA lock popped and you open and see things packed haphazardly who takes the blame?
Mar 17, 2014 | 10:19 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: UA GS/1MM, Ritz Carlton Plat
Posts: 200
I have had the same thoughts. When I travel with my ski bag, which is one of the hard plastic ones, about 25% of the time TSA will forget to reattach the metal clip which holds the two ends of the case together (the ends slide in together and are held in place by a clip). Meaning that the ends of the case could come apart at any time. I thought about putting a conspicuous note on the next to the clip holes but decided against it because I am worried someone will get offended. So I don't do it, and instead carry an extra clip for the case.
Mar 18, 2014 | 12:27 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Titanium, Nat'l EE, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,637
You can try, but no guarantees. Not that I think many would mess it up out of spite... they just don't care. The last time I packed some fragile glass items in a suitcase, I wrapped each individually in heavy socks for protection. Opened the suitcase on arrival to find each one removed from its padding and carelessly tossed back in the suitcase.
Mar 18, 2014 | 10:37 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: RDU
Programs: Status Free
Posts: 214
If it's really important to you fed-ex it or ship some other way. Any note is just a signal to steal or break out of spite. Also, no matter how well you pack the luggage handlers will be rough. Not worth the chance of damage or loss
Mar 18, 2014 | 11:30 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan, AAdvantage
Posts: 2,107
Oh if the TSA doesn't repack, my stuff survives just fine, it's a Samsonite hardshell and holds up just fine and again, there's a pillow and an LCD carrier involved. Rough or not, it's really hard to break stuff this way (although BUD did break the previous suitcase -- the monitor still survived).
Mar 19, 2014 | 11:50 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: HHonors Diamond, AA Executive Platinum, National Executive Elite, Avis First
Posts: 494
Are you going somewhere you could take a firearm? You could always put a firearm in there and declare it. At most airports they will do the unpack / repack in front of you when you declare a firearm.
If you don't have a gun you can purchase a flare gun. They must be declared and handled the same as a normal firearm.
If you don't have a gun you can purchase a flare gun. They must be declared and handled the same as a normal firearm.
