Flying to America

rts · Tue 20 Jul, 2004 13.16

I was wondering if anyone could confirm whether it is true, or not, that you are not permitted to pad-lock suitcases when flying to the United States?

iSon · Tue 20 Jul, 2004 13.20

I believe it's the same as anywhere - airport staff love a good look round your luggage going in the hold (my iPod charger confused a few French staff when I was flying back!) so I suppose they don't want any hinderance for getting into it.

You probably could padlock it, but I'm sure they'd have no problem getting the cutters on it.

andyrew · Tue 20 Jul, 2004 13.23

Not sure if that's true or not, but when I last flew from JFK they had a slightly unusual check-in procedure.

Check-in as normal, luggage weighed and tagged etc. But rather than put your bags on the conveyer belt you had to take your bag to a huge x-ray scanner and lots of security people. Once your bag cleared this security check it was then put on the conver-system. They requested people with locked bags to hang around just incase they wanted to have a physical search. If your bag wasn't locked you could go.

Anonymous · Tue 20 Jul, 2004 13.26

MrTomServo · Tue 20 Jul, 2004 14.07

As far as I understand it, you can lock your luggage, but if the x-ray machine kicks out your bags for any reason, the TSA has every right and authority (or so they say) to break the locks by any means necessary to inspect your luggage.

So if the lock is a little padlock thingy, then that's probably fine. But I'd reconsider my luggage if it is metal and has those integrated briefcase-type locks.

This will happen at the first airport you arrive at in the US. If you are going along to another destination within the US, your baggage must be taken off the plane, inspected, and then reloaded.

James Martin · Tue 20 Jul, 2004 17.53

Isonstine wrote:I believe it's the same as anywhere - airport staff love a good look round your luggage going in the hold (my iPod charger confused a few French staff when I was flying back!) so I suppose they don't want any hinderance for getting into it.

You probably could padlock it, but I'm sure they'd have no problem getting the cutters on it.

Should you have a charger in your hold luggage anyway? Like as with laptops and the iPod itself I'd take it on board in hand luggage.

rts · Tue 20 Jul, 2004 17.56

Well when I flew to Crete I obviously had my iPod on board, but I personally packed the chargers in my main luggage.

iSon · Tue 20 Jul, 2004 19.51

Most airport security staff are a bit wary of the iPod charger (a bit new so they're not totally aware of what it is...) and will want to search your bag there and then for taking such an odd item into the cabin.

It was mainly a comfort issue - if they see it and want to check it out, I would rather have it in the main luggage for them to rummage through at their leisure rather have to watch them search your hand luggage in front of 200 french people.

rts · Tue 20 Jul, 2004 20.11

Lol, I was using my iPod on my flight out to Crete just over a week ago and a stewardess had a fit thinking I was using a mobile phone. Took a slap from a steward to calm her down, lol

iSon · Tue 20 Jul, 2004 20.48

Yes, I had the same fun.

I was also told to turn it off during landing (why!? Actually don't answer that) and then told to put my seat in the fully upright position. I feel reassured they care so much as when you're hurtling towards the ground at 400mph that the brace position and an upright seat will save my life.

Marcus · Tue 20 Jul, 2004 20.53

Isonstine wrote:Yes, I had the same fun.

I was also told to turn it off during landing (why!? Actually don't answer that) and then told to put my seat in the fully upright position. I feel reassured they care so much as when you're hurtling towards the ground at 400mph that the brace position and an upright seat will save my life.

It's so the people behind you can get out easily should there be a fire on landing

And don't forget only four books of matches are allowed onto American flights!