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Personal Travel

I’m Back

Just got back from New York earlier tonight. Nearly got a heart attack at the airport when picking up my luggage. I realized all my bags locks were missing and that my laptop which I had shoved between two pockets in one of my bags was gone. Turns out JFK security must have broken all the locks and searched through the bags because I found my laptop but it was placed in a different location. So far doesn’t look like anything is missing but that was pretty scary though.

41 replies on “I’m Back”

Yeah your not supposed to lock your bags if traveling from or to the Us and they also do ‘random’ bag searches and usually leave a small flyer in the searched bag. Its not scary lol.

You should have gotten TSA approved locks. They’re the ones with a hole in the bottom so that they can unlock your bag and then re lock it. Teehee USA noob 😛

You are lucky. My parents came to visit me in the states, and on the way back to Kuwait, someone stole a lot of items from their baggage. My dad lost a camera worth $850 and other souvenirs. They ended up having all receipts worth over $2000 and turned it in to Delta. After 4 months of fighting, they ended up getting $180! You are lucky. They didnt have TSA locks, so their locks were broken. It was pretty frustrating.

They had caught some baggage handlers last year at JFK who were stealing from peoples baggage and selling the stuff on eBay. Some famous photographer from Europe had a very expensive rare camera stolen and traced it on eBay.

when my dad was heading back from the states through JFK they asked for permission to open his luggage + they asked him if he wants to go down and see them check the bags and my dad did

Thank God his back! no more food pics! especially good food that we can’t have here! how selfish of u! hehehe

hey Mark, did u shave before u went on the plane? they must have gone checkout that arab dude! hehehe

the only thing keeping me from visit the U.S. is a cavity search! hehehe

usualy people with the middle name of “AL” always get “randomly” selected.

Maybe they thought you were related to Al the famous terrorist.

The american airport security has specific locks, that they can open/close, irrespective of the number you put. The idea being if they ever wanted to check your bags, then they will break open the locks.

I dont quite remember the name of those number locks

qeight: they’re TSA approved locks which is what I had purchased and used.

Airport security wasn’t a bother coming in and leaving the US. It was exactly like the Heathrow. The reason my bags were checked was probably because of all the electronics that I had. My only issue was the fact they removed my locks and didn’t put them back. That pissed me off because a) I paid for these locks and b) the whole point of locks is to protect my stuff and I had a lot of stuff

Guys! Ever heard of the concept of not putting valuables in your check-in????? Cameras and Laptops should always be taken as carry-on luggage. Watch the video in the link below, and you will see how easy it is to get stuff out of your bag without them even opening the locks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5mvvZl6pLI

Keith, thats fine and dandy when you have just 1 laptop but the amount of electronics I had with me you can’t fit them in a carry on.

Carry-ons are allowed and you can even have more than one (ie a purse and a carry on).

The US airport where pretty decent about everything. Qatar airport on the other hand…

Before we got to the US while in transit in Qatar we had to go through security. You put your stuff in the xray machine and you go wait a short distance after. Your bag goes in and then someone opens it and goes through it and throws out anything they think is not allowed WITHOUT informing you and then you get your carry on. I noticed from a distance someone threw something out of nats purse and told Nat. She flipped through her purse trying to see what was missing and in the end concluded it was her sewing kit (had needles). Not sure why they had to throw away the whole kit and not just the needles…

Mark Welcome back to Kuwait.

I say, why not just get diplomatic bags stickers and place it on the bags – That way no one would have the right to check your bag as it would be regarded as a violation.

It would be regarded as a violation if ur pretending to be a diplomat with diplomatic bag stickers.

I once arrived in Kuwait and my bags had been unpacked and repacked by someone, funny thing is nothing was missing but I somehow seemed to acquire a little toy truck, a chocolate bar and an empty electronic frame packaging box… strange things happen at airports when no ones watching…

if anyone is going to the US, make sure that the four S letters are NOT on your boarding pass as they stand for:
Special Security Shigoo Shag!

In my last trip from Kuwait to US this xmas my father insisted that I take two honey jars for my son. When I reached DC everything was fine. But it seems from DC to my state the TSA opened my bags for inspection and opened one of the honey jars and didn’t close it tight. At first I thought they liked the honey and ate half the jar but when I looked inside the bag I discover that the missing honey was all over my place.

Also back in 2002 I bought a laser printer from Chicago on my way back to Kuwait. I was stupid enough to leave in its original box and checked it in at ORD with Kuwait Airways. The printer never made it to Kuwait but KU compensated me for the full price (I had the receipt).

I will NEVER and have NEVER sent any of my electronics on a flight in checked baggage. Everything, from my 2 laptops, external HD, camcorder, cameras, iPod, and various charges always travel with my.

As for whether or not they have the right to check your bags without you being present, unfortunately they do. I’ve often come home from trips to find little “love notes” from TSA in my bags advising me of their search . . . I’m sure they had a blast going through my dirty laundry and shoes. 😀

Absolute worst experience was when I traveled to Beirut a few years ago . . . the Security dude opened both of my checked bags and my carry-on and rummaged through it all (making an absolute mess of my jeans & shoes). I still can’t figure out what he thought I may be carrying, but he was definately confused as to why I was carrying coffee and sweet & low with me and was more than surprised when I demanded that he refold my stuff so I could get the bags closed again. 😀

Mark, I beg to differ no this subject. Like you, I am also a bit of a gadget enthusiast and my carry-on contain: MacBook Pro / Nikon D40x / Panasonic digital camera/ Panasonic Video camera / I-phone / I-pod / External Hard drive / Bluetooth mouse / Bose head phones / a couple of SD cards and USB sticks. This is only my list of stuff and if I have to add my daughter’s list then it’s an Acer netbook / Archos AV420 / I-pod and Nikon digital camera. This list excludes my wife’s list of stuff, as she keeps things simple.

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