What ever happened to the (pre 9/11) questions they used to ask at check-in about "did your bags ever leave your control?"

The TSA didn't steal anything from my suitcase (OK, I admit I didn't count my dirty socks), but they did leave me a souvenir Notification of Baggage Inspection.

Samsonyte introduces the SmartCase(tm).

When this state-of the art hardshell suitcase is opened, a camera embedded in the lid of the SmartCase snaps a picture every five seconds, and plays back an audio message you can record!

Suggested message: "Hello and welcome to my suitcase. Don't hide you badge number, I'll need a clear picture of that in case I need to file a complaint against you. Smile!"

The bottom of the SmartCase contains an ingeniously slim scale that checks the weight of its contents before and after opening. If the weight changes, the SmartCase can dial your cellphone and transmit the most recent photo capture (cellular service not included).

This was a problem before the TSA. There's a very simple solution.

Never. Check. Anything.

Edited by author 06-30-2003 04:15 PM
Why don't we just can the TSA?

I believe the creation of the TSA was a purely political move; throw a bunch of busy-bodies in the airport and people will feel safer. I think it's all BS.. It doesn't make me feel any safer, and I don't think any system of screening ever would make me feel safer. I've travelled a lot in the last couple of months, and there appear to be many ways to thwart their inspection system. There *always* will be a counter-measure to their measures. Rule number one of security is: there is no such thing as "100% secure."

What about toxic gases? Toxic chemicals? Combustible materials? You can't screen for those in the walk-thru metal detector. Anyone could shove anything up their ass and walk on through. There are a million ways people could bring weapons on to an aircraft.

I refuse to live in fear, and I hate it that I'm forced to be subjected to the TSA as a result of other people's fears. Even after 9-11, air travel still remains the safest way to travel. The TSA is a gigantic waste of time and taxpayer money.

Wow, just about every tech solution I could think of was already posted here... smart crowd...

The more I read about "Homeland Security" efforts, the more convinced I am that the US looks at what everyone else is doing, and then does the absolute opposite. Instead of useful, functional means of security, we're given half-assed crap that a group of five year old's could defeat in less than a minute.

AND! Anyone who criticizes any of this piddling bs is responded to with the equivalent of "No Back Talk!" Like we were giving 'Aid and Comfort' to the enemy for pointing out the flaws in the less than sterling security.

If there is one thing we desperately need over at DHS, it's a Red Team that won't pull punches or be a political animal. I've heard dozens of reports of security breachs across all manner of critical infrastructure, and when anyone asks about it, "They're being Partisan!"

Is there a French word for 'Clue' that starts with the letter A?

Thinking Sans A Clue, comes to my mind

TSA:
Taking Scissors Away
Thousands Standing Around (via a pilot)

The two times I've had to deal with the TSA, I have to say I'm surprised how painless the process was. I had braced myself for a long delay. Both times we asked the guy to spin the combo lock on our suitcase after he had done his check, and he complied.

But no one can expect that to happen everywhere, and I agree, requiring suitcases to be unlocked opens up all sorts of nasty scenarios. Just don't be like that dumbass in the Circuit City ad and pack your camcorder.

My favorite so far was the baggage scanning/check system at VTE(Vientiane, Laos). It's surprisingly modern. Bags go through a giant X-Ray machine, not unlike the bomb-sniffing ones that were SUPPOSED to be in all US airports last fall,
and then at the other end, the bag hits a push-plate which triggers this automatic strapper to zip plastic strapping around your bag and seal it right in front of you.

Then you pick your bag up, walk it over to the check-in desk, they look at it, see that it's sealed and just toss it on the belt. When I got to BKK, my bag was still sealed and
stayed so until I got to my hotel.

WAY better than the TSA.

I flew through Toronto International Airport today. Every passenger puts his/her bag through an x-ray machine, then carries it over to a manual inspection point, where it is searched before his/her eyes. Then s/he closes his/her suitcase, locks it, and puts it on the belt. Sure beats TSA.

Edited by author 06-29-2003 09:14 PM
If the TSA thinks it appropriate to constantly video and randomly search passengers and their bags, then this should apply to TSA employees as well.

Cameras in all "back-room" luggage areas. Mandatory background screening of TSA employees (still not done?!). X-ray TSA employees coming in and out of the airport. If it's good for us, why isn't it good for them?

I mean, if a TSA employee can take items out of our bags and out of the airport, what's to stop him from bringing something in?

Edited by author 06-29-2003 08:50 PM
The TSA is being stubbornly uncreative about the whole inspecting luggage issue. I can understand an initial reaction of "We need to inspect luggage, so everything must be unlocked."

As an initial solution, that's OK. But then after a few weeks I'd hope they'd ask "Are there better ways to do this? Can we find a way that combines searches with allowing locked luggage? Do we really want Americans traveling to other countries to have luggage with tags that scream out 'I'm American and my luggage isn't locked!'? Can we conceive of no circumstances in which a traveler would be safer if the luggage was locked?"

But they haven't asked any of these: they've stuck, for no reason, with their original, quickly though out solution.

For example, I've suggested using combination locks with big fluorescent tags that have the key written on them. If the luggage isn't inspected, the TSA simply rips off the tag. If the luggage is opened, the tag is used to unlock the luggage and is then ripped off. This wouldn't take any more time than the current system, and people would know that the luggage arrives locked without the "Hi, I'm an unlocked suitcase belonging to an American" message.

Or have the person's phone number and call them. Or do searches right away while the person is there. Or brainstorm some solution which allows travelers the safety of locked luggage.

Because even if you aren't traveling with luxury goods, you still might need to pack thief-tempting materials, especially now that you can only take one main carry-on bag. If you're hiking you might need boots, walking sticks, a knife or binoculars. If you photograph you'll need tripods and lenses. Anywhere you might need guidebooks. All of these can be tempting, and you should be able to keep them locked- if not for the departing airport, certainly for some destination airports.

I think that within about 5 years this won't be much of a problem, due to cheap tech. Solid state video cameras could be hidden within the luggage, which would record whenever it's inspected. GPS could track lost luggage. I could see the company that is selling the child and dog tracking gizmo to have another market for package tracking.

Little wireless tracking tags might help curb this.

When I got back to Lisbon from NYC last May I found they *broke* my suitcase to look at what was into it. Nothing inside was missing though. TAP got me a new suitcase, but you have to wonder about what has become of private property rights in the US, of all places.

I have shipped some things by fedex in the past when travelling. Obviously, if you ship everything and show up at the airport with no luggage, you'll be highly suspect, so don't take this tip too far.