Departing PHX yesterday, second time in the past year, paperwork in business folders inside my checked bag was removed, disorganized, and replaced in damaged condition. This time little else was ransacked.

Last time a stamped, sealed USPS Priority Mail envelope was opened, its contents left wrinkled and scattered throughout a rolling duffle that was pretty much trashed�an especially nice touch being horsy-scented cowboy boots taken out of their waterproof bag and nestled inside a clean blazer.

TSA love note both times; they had to open TSA locks and/or tied zippers so I discount baggage handlers hoping for cash. Anyone else experiencing this recently, or is it just the black helicopters checking up on me again?

I have been testing a theory. When I check in and show my UAE driver's license as ID, my bag is opened 100% of the time (5 or 6 times now). When I show my Nevada driver's license as ID it has never been opened. With my passport it is opened about 50% of the time.

The only thing that has ever gone missing is a small ziplock bag full of about $2 in US coins... they left my UAE and Qatari coins from the same bag.

My luggage is constantly searched and returned a mess. Never had anything missing (never check anything that interesting), but I have had items spoiled.

Kinda pretty but can't possibly be worth anything, right?

No surprise there: nine years ago I had to explain � sterling to a Wells Fargo teller who was unaware that other currencies than $US exist.

Your ID test results depend on what you produce when you check bags? Any/all U.S. airports? Sad but not really unexpected.

Have had things nicked that I'd never have imagined were "interesting," but more often spoiled.

TSA Complaint Line 1-866-289-9673

I recommend filing a complaint every time your checked bag is opened, without your explicit consent, regardless of pilferage, "implied consent" be damned.

A shameless lack of self respect is at the heart of this plundering of your files.

Just out of curiosity.

Not to rub salt in the wound, but this is why I, personally, stay put until my bag is out of their sticky fingers whenever the airport layout allows & I know T3 @ PHX does (haven't checked bags @ either of the other terminals, though I will be doing so in 2 weeks). The screeners grumble & definately don't like being subject to this kind of scrutiny, but in the end, given the lack of accountability the TSA is well known for, this is really the only protection we have.

Write your senator. Unacceptable.

Unfortunately I mainly use T3 for parking: nearly always fly out of T4.

Checking curbside, at some carriers you can watch your bag x-rayed but I haven't had one opened up there for a long time. The operators occasionally seem disconcerted to notice they're being watched, but I haven't been told to "move along" in ages. Occasionally they even ask why. When I explain about grandma's rosemaling TP holder/my sophomore textbooks, they treat it gently or even bring it over for me to verify locks/ties intact. The breaking in and pawing through happens later after it goes below. Maybe they mark it or something.

Inside: at major carriers you self-check, watch an agent wrap the bag tags on and haul it to the conveyor belt. Forget if BA still have theirs right out next to the class-segregated lines. Again, I never see it opened there.

T2 has had exceptionally arrogant, ill-informed screeners and barkers: I avoid it now. At one time TSOs were trained there, it was a zoo. T4 has its share of barkers and little emperors but many seem to be taking hints lately to smile more and use their indoor voices. High tourist days stress them out.

Good luck at T4 when you go. The new passenger level has lovely tile, art installations, and fine retail opportunity. Handles noise competently. That's the terminal I meet people if there's some kind of long wait. Not a bad place to hang out if you forget your worldly goods are being ravaged four floors below.

USPS Inspectors are usually willing to go after just about anybody. Wonder if they would take on the TSA? The only problem is that I don't know if this would qualify as Mail Tampering / Vandalism since it had not yet made it into a mailbox.


(OT: I like that the USPIS's "Investigations" lists "Homeland Security" as "Site Under Construction". )

The Senators are Kyl & McCain! Been writing them for years.

McCain's office generally sends a gracious form letter that doesn't address the issues in the correspondence I sent. In olden days you used to get a paper response on decent stationery with an actual inked signature.

Kyl's is more rigid, formulaic, and if anything is communicated at all it's just, well, crazier. Take a look at his Terrorism web page. Anything to Keep Us Safe.

I have wondered the same thing. The damaged papers in the sealed envelope were needed overseas soon after the event, and I was heading to a different country, so I never followed it up that way. I suspect that, as you mention, its never having reached a mailbox is the killer, but I wonder what the status would be if the stamps had been franked?

I will have to speak with my post office and see about dummying up a decoy. I'm sure it will happen again.

You can come up with a lot of interesting ideas lying awake because the clean garment you packed to sleep in arrives sprinkled with horse poop.

I probably had about $3 in UAE coins and $2 in Qatari coins. All in the same bag as the US ones. They sorted out the coins, taking only the US ones. I have used my UAE DL as ID in RNO, SJC, DFW, ATL and JFK and each time the bag is opened by TSA.

This board needs a jaw-drop smilie!

It was quite a bit of confusion when I wanted to deposit some �s but it was simply about procedure, it was rare enough they didn't know how to handle it. Not knowing what it is is quite another matter!