Yes, the Federal Security Director is the senior TSA representative at the airport (or, if it's a small airport spoked to a hub airport, he/she is the senior TSA representative responsible for that airport).

My basic philosophy here is that all TSA practices should withstand the scrutiny of the FSD when challenged. If not, then it's incumbent upon the FSD to take decisive and corrective action. But you gotta let the FSD know that a problem (or perceived problem) exists.

In fairness, I was talking LAX TO YYZ, not the opposite. But sounds liked your only problem above was once they decided to search your bags, they didn't do as good a job as you thought they should?

Sounds like you had some issues above which I'm not going to get into because I'm not in a position to address.

However, I will address the boarding pass requirement - welcome to the USA. Exact same stuff is required flying w/in most airports in the US - duh. At least at YYZ you have the excuse of int'l.

BTW - in other countries I've been in they take this stuff even more seriously - you need to explain some of your stamps, which is ok w/ me. Means they're paying more attention than our (somewhat) token efforts at terrorism.

I actually feel more secure going through overseas (Europe) security than I do in US. YMMV. Cheers. Sharon

The EDS machine that x-rays your checked baggage specifically highlights suspicious items. The screener only checks the items identified by the x-ray machine inside your checked baggage. This is different than the x-ray of your carry-on items which is based on a human interpretation of the x-ray image and requires a different search technique. When searching your carry-on item, a screener may conduct a complete physical check of your carry-on item or may search only the suspect area and then have the carry-on item x-rayed again.

There is a protocol for a complete physical inspection of your checked baggage, but it is done under specific circumstances.

As for zipper tags, well, all I can say is that they don't make 'em like they used to. Not trying to be flippant here; however, your luggage takes quite a beating just going down conveyor belts, shooting out of the EDS machine, being handled by both TSA screeners and airline baggage handlers, being loaded and unloaded from aircraft, thrown into trunks of cars and other normal wear and tear. The little wheels on the bottom of your bag are usually made of cheap plastic and they crack very easily. Often, people overstuff their luggage, which puts a lot of strain on the seams and results in tears along the stress points as well as the zipper tabs where people put a lot of force as they try to zip the bag closed.

Yes, there are screeners who mistreat your luggage. The same goes for airline baggage handlers, taxi cab drivers and skycaps. This is part of the entire equation, and I'm not trying to justify it. I'm just sharing my observation.

(Combination reply including Bart)

You're right, I didn't have any issues with it until the secondary. This was about a year ago, and I think the one thing that really bothered me was how only clothes was in this 62" rollaboard, all clothes, not even a toiletry kit.

And yes, I was bothered by the quasi-search. If they don't think anything was in there, then let me go on my way rather than rifling through my personal belongings for some stupid quota.

I've been to other countries, trust me I am aware about those things you mention. I have been traveling in and out of Europe for just under 10 years. The only "problem" I have had was with one Colnel Klink profiler in Munich. He was more bothered about the autographs of celebs I have in the back cover of my Passport than anything else. I told him the Passport is the property of the US Government and if he had an issue, I encouraged him to drive over to the US Embassy and have a chat with them. He didn't like it (for whatever reason..not his call anyway), but he let me through.

The "stamp issue" is rare for me, and only when I am departing a country, they seek the entry stamp. I think that has happened only twice in eight years to me.

As I have said many times before, security in non-North American airports is much less humiliating and invasive. Specifically, LHR is just as much a target as the entire country of the USA, complete with military romaing around with fingers on the triggers of Uzis, and their security procedures, including no shoe carnival, seems to be doing just fine.

One entry back into the USA, via IAD (where the kaboom detector machine is right in front of you), I noted this rather short, thinner woman handling the bags coming out of the chute, throwing the bags coming out, because she was clearly having trouble with them (and the chances of five bags in a row being too heavy is unlikely). I went back to the guy who directed where our bags go and asked if my bags can go in the line without the thrower, he gave me a dirty look and said it was too late. Told him I will remember him if anything is damaged in my checked bag. Fortuantely, nothing was damaged.

And yes, I have had a bag of mine repaired about five times in just under 10 years. Two of those times were pre-TSA.

Naturally, I use carry-on as much as possible. While it is partly for the convenience of not having to wait 10 hours for my bag at DEN when I get home, I have to honestly say I do not trust the TSA with my belongings.