Hi,

I had my suitcase opened by Aeroflot between LED and SVO1. The padlock was open and the zips in a different position.

Nothing was stolen, no info to say what had happened and no time to report it (except a quick look to check there was no ticking or white .... in there!!)

I once had a camera stolen on a Air 2000 charter to Spain from an unlocked bag and that has taught me never to put anything in there of higher value than a bunch of dirty pants - get a load of that you .......s.

What should I do? What are they allowed to do without my consent?

Any thoughts/advice welcome.

if you were departing from the usa, it was most likely tsa that opened your bags, not aeroflot. bags get opened all the time all over the world. mostly for security and customs, sometimes buy somebody with not so good intentions. there's nothing you can do about it.

Actually I have always locked my bags when flying within Asia, within Europe and between the two. After 15 years of regular international flying and 10 years of frequent flying, not once have they ever been opened or interfered with. I generally use hardshell cases. The contents are generally business related stuff - papers, clothes etc plus a few tins/jars of favourite hard to get foodstuffs.

A couple of times suitcases have been severly bashed/dented beyond repair/wheels broken. But they still remained sealed.

Once in Saigon just prior to boarding I was called to an inspection point where they asked me to open my suitcase. They took one look and saw that the vase which they thought might be a priceless antique subject to export control was, in fact, a worthless free gift.

YMMV of course - and things are different in the US, I know.

Had a bag opened by the TSA a few times, It's a large North Face Duffel, full of camping gear, so bound to look a bit strange on X-Ray.

I always know by the positioning of the zips at baggage reclaim. At least I have a TSA lock, and they did resecure it properly. ^

I've pretty much given up on TSA locks. Have had 4 of them now disabled. TSA, I assume, clamps something on the hasp and (I assume) rips it open, so that the hasp is bent. In each case I've still been able to unlock the lock with much difficulty and don't have to cut it off, but the lock is basically ruined. This has happend ex-TPA, FLL, PSP and SAN. It's always appeared to be the same tool (like needle nose pliers) that is used no matter which outstation.

Not good

Mine have never looked at all damaged, so assume they've opened them with the key (PacSafe Locks). I've had searches out of SFO, ATL and ORD from memory.

Mine have been subjected to search only in the US and the only ay I could ell was a little note left in the luggage thanking me and saying it had been searched

Yeah, I know that the USA can open bags but this was between LED (St. Petersberg) and SVO1 (Moscow-Sheremetyevo)

I had been through the ex-ray machine with the bags (this is done before check-in in russia, and you get a sticker on it to say it was scanned.

The Padlock was back on the zips but open - odd - I'm not even sure it is a TSA approved padlock? I think in the UK they have to call you to security to rifle through your stuff.

why do you think the TSA has the exclusive world-wide right to open bags without your presence? security services in almost every country have this right. there's nothing you can do.

Fair enough.. It�s just the foreigner�s impression that the USA�s security forces are more paranoid and less concerned with civil liberties than over here (i.e. advance passenger information, fingerprint and photo data collection etc etc..)

I have heard a few people get called over the tannoy to the baggage screening room in the UK (LBA) so I assumed that perhaps there was some EU legislation that meant they can only open baggage in your presence.

I rather suspect the authorities do have rights to open baggage in UK airports without your being present. Even if its not covered by legislation, it might be contractual - ie a condition of using the airport etc.

I think the real difference (if there is one) is regarding the extent to which police they take up the rights they have and/or the quality and level of evidence needed before they do so.

A further check in Europe is the convention on human rights. Its articles don't specifically prohibit anything much - but state actions that could impinge upon them must be "proportionate" and "necessary in a democratic society" - else they can face challenge. So whatever the police do, it has to be justifiable to some degree.

I flew through Seoul to Tokyo from Europe (had a meeting in Seoul for a day), and was planning to go scuba diving in the weekends while in Japan. So, I had a big bag with scuba-gear (ss bp/w & LH for the divers around) with me.

After checking in in Seoul, I headed towards security, when the check-in lady came running after me yelling "mr. Voop, mr. Voop" Following her to just next to her counter we went into an enclosure of sorts, where there was a huge X-ray thingie and a few security folks, looking puzzled at my (locked) bag. They asked if I could open it, which I did. When they saw what it was, they smiled, and sent me on my merry way.

Apparantly, they have big, hidden in-line screeners there, and try to catch people before they get too far away if there's something that they want a closer look at. Fine procedure, I think

Taipei has a similar system (at least in T2). Sometimes the check-in staff ask you to watch the baggage as it goes through (at the end of each check-in row).