I've been flying out of JFK for my last several trips to Africa. Every year the TSA goons cut the lock on my checked bag. I presume it's due to the ammo inside. I took to putting a spare lock inside my bag with a note asking them to use it to replace the lock they cut. Sometimes they do and sometimes not. This year I took Mark Youngs advice and used a TSA lock with the small cable. Guess what, the azzhats cut the TSA lock. Of course they didn't replace it with the lock that was in a plastic bag with a large note. My bag went through Joberg unlocked. I got lucky and nothing was taken.


I have no idea what I can do to eleviate the situation in the future.

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
I've been flying out of JFK for my last several trips to Africa. Every year the TSA goons cut the lock on my checked bag. I presume it's due to the ammo inside. I took to putting a spare lock inside my bag with a note asking them to use it to replace the lock they cut. Sometimes they do and sometimes not. This year I took Mark Youngs advice and used a TSA lock with the small cable. Guess what, the azzhats cut the TSA lock. Of course they didn't replace it with the lock that was in a plastic bag with a large note. My bag went through Joberg unlocked. I got lucky and nothing was taken.


I have no idea what I can do to eleviate the situation in the future.

You are not allowed to use a personal lock on checked baggage other than guns; TSA locks only. I have used TSA locks on my checked bags and never had an issue with them. First time I heard of them cutting a TSA lock...

Labman,

Sorry you had that experience. It seems you just can't beat the dumb asses. My suspicion is that they saw the cable, perhaps had not seen that configuration of TSA lock before and cut it. OR it was just more fun to cut the lock than open it with their key.

Mark

Tom,
TSA removed the TSA lock off my bag last year in Atlanta and never put it back on, no idea where it went. This year they took the lock off my ammo case and left it in the bottom of my bag, thankfully they put the lock back on my bag.

I went through TSA in New York last Friday. I had three bags. One was a tuffpac with a TSA lock, one was a small duffel enclosing within an ammo carrying hard case. The third was my regular luggage with nothing inside but clothes. I came in to JFK via Paris. My guns and suitcases all came out thriugh a regular carousel. After passing through customs, I requested that the port police be notified that I had firearms. That was done and Port police walked with me to Terminal 2. They escorted me into the TSA check station, the bags were x-rayed and everyone welcomed me home. When I arrived in Jacksonville, all my bags were there and unmolested. I’m not sure what I do differently, but I’ve been to Africa least 30 times in the last 20 years without a single issue. That’s in and out of JAX, ATL, BQK, IAD, JFK, BOS, DFW and SAV.

Maybe it’s because I’m so good looking.

BTW, I flew business-class On Air France for thousands of dollars cheaper than anywhere else that I could find. I picked a flight that had a 15 hour delay in Paris and a did little sightseeing in between flights. An AR member took me around and we had a great time drinking some good wine, seeing sights and eating wonderful food. I think staying awake those 15 hours set me up for bypassing jet lag.

That and a 40+“ dugga boy makes for a good trip.

We need the story and pics on the buff!

.

For the non USA crowd and not googling - what are tsa locks ???

.

Locks that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) can open with their TSA master keys.

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:



I have no idea what I can do to eleviate the situation in the future.

Are you flying SAA out of terminal 4?

When PA Police walk me over to inspection booth I have them say I'm waiting there for all clear and watch them check cases. Usually a couple minutes and I'm on my way.Been using my locks on gun case and my lock on an ammo can (I don't have any other bags checked). 4 years in a row and no issues.

If you are flying SAA maybe ask that all your bags go over with gun case for inspection? I always find their counter staff very accommodating.

I don’t like flying through there but I have done it. It has been a little bit of a nuisance. We did have a bit of entertainment on one trip. TSA took us into their offices for some reason. I can’t remember why now. We got into a discussion about some of the TV shows filmed there. They started telling us stories that were really interesting. Just that day they had 3 suit cases left on a carousel that were not tagged. The contents were pure cocaine.

Dinsdale - I tried that when the Port Authority police walked me to TSA. I asked if I could stay there in case they needed me to open the bag and told them about my prior experiences with TSA cutting the locks. I was told that was not permissible. That the bag had already been checked in with SAA and it would not be an issue since I had a TSA lock on the bag. I then asked them to page me if there was any problem with my luggage. No page and they cut the TSA lock.

I just flew out of JFK with a rifle on the 23rd, no issues, but it was clear that some of the people there very clearly knew what to do, while others had no idea.

Perhaps the best course is to first ask if they have handled a firearm check in before.

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
I've been flying out of JFK for my last several trips to Africa. Every year the TSA goons cut the lock on my checked bag. I presume it's due to the ammo inside. I took to putting a spare lock inside my bag with a note asking them to use it to replace the lock they cut. Sometimes they do and sometimes not. This year I took Mark Youngs advice and used a TSA lock with the small cable. Guess what, the azzhats cut the TSA lock. Of course they didn't replace it with the lock that was in a plastic bag with a large note. My bag went through Joberg unlocked. I got lucky and nothing was taken.


I have no idea what I can do to eleviate the situation in the future.

easy, change airports!

You got off lightly. I usually travel with a steamer trunk that has two locks. Instead of opening the TSA the locks, the goons destroyed the hasp and staple arrangement on my favorite trunk.