I got backroomed by TSA in LAX

[Adam J]

Hi Guys thought you might be interested in my experience with security at LAX last week.

This is definitely not a complaint or whinge, I was treated very well but it was an interesting experience.

Long story short I was best man at a Wedding in Santa Cruz CA, I fly to the states probably every 6-8 weeks for work and was due in New York a week after the Wedding so a couple of the other Aussies tacked on a trip to Vegas after the Wedding.

Anyway after a pretty solid workout at the Wedding and then Vegas I had to make my way to work in New York. Arriving back at LAX it was probably pretty obvious I had been on the drink for a week, although I was sober just very tired and hungover.

I arranged for one of the other guests to take home to Australia unnecessary luggage and was traveling to New York with a Suit Bag with two suits 5 shirts 5 ties undies and a small amount of casual clothing and some gym gear. A standard pack for me plus a backpack and lap top with odds and ends. I must admit I had not shaved but was traveling first class and was dressed appropriately.

Anyway I checked my luggage all good and was heading for the first class lounge for a snack and plenty of water. I placed my back pack through the scanner went through the scanner myself. I noticed the Xray machine conveyor belt had stopped and the examiner called over an assistant to look further at the image of may backpack.

My bag and laptop were pulled for further examination and I was escorted to the side and given the explosive test and was asked if they could search my backpack. They were very very polite and moved me away from the other passengers. No problems so far.

A very thorough search was made and I was asked did I know what was inside, did I pack the bag etc. I asked what they had seen and they told me a suspicious item. Another officer came over and asked me where I had been what I was doing etc etc. By this time they were really having a serious look at my bag and told me that there was an item secreted in the stitching of the bag and would I please follow them for further examination. They really were very polite and courteous.

I was escorted to a secure room and asked to provide my passport and other identification. This is where it becomes interesting, my work has taken me to the Middle East, Europe and two trips tio Pakistan this year all nicely documented in my passport, I also work for a Bank headquarted in the Middle East (I won't name them here but they are well respected internationally) I am Australian Born of Anglo Saxon heritage.

I sat at a table and the TSA guys left and were replaced by two other men who did not properly identify themselves I assumed they were either more senior or another department. They informed that my luggage was being removed from the United Flight and I would not be travelling on that particular flight and I was asked if I would submit to a "Pat Down" Again very professional they advised me of my rights if I felt uncomfortable or felt that I was being touched inappropriartely I could ask them to stop, I said no problems, I was then asked if I would consent to a strip search. Now I was getting worried, but I complied. I was also asked to turn on my laptop and provide them with my password and did I consent to its examination. no problems I said

At this stage my suit bag had arrived and it was searched. It got a bit more serious I was interviewed at length about my job why I was a regular visitor to Pakistan, what was my meeting in New York about. I am an export negotiator and basically represent many Australian companies who export to the Asian Region.

What did concern me was that I had lost sight of my luggage and requested that I should be present when my belongings were searched. It was getting pretty tense because they were really banging away about the bank I worked for and was I involved in International Money Transfers would I provide a list of clients I represented etc. I told them that I could not give them that information but they were welcome to contact New York and speak to Senior Management who would provide them with further details of my Bona Fides. I explained again that my role was working with Australian Exporters major corporates and I did not send money to the Middle East or Pakistan but instead USD was transferred to Australia via Letter of Credit for things like Wheat, Wool, Cotton. Cattle etc.

Things were a bit tense but my job training probably helped me stay cool. At this stage I had been detained for three hours and was told that they were waiting for further information from Australia and a decision on my travel would be made then.

Again I will say they were very polite and provided me with water and a Sandwich, and I was actually sort of chatting to them in a freindly way, asked about the Wedding, did I surf one of the Agents surfed and my mate whose wedding it was is a senior manager for a major surf brand based in Santa Cruz, I told them a funny story about my speech which they had a chuckle about.

Anyway here is the bloody rub. I had this cheap backpack you know the ones They give you at Fitness First. It was tatty and smelly cause it is esssentially my Gym Bag. The uniformed officers came back and asked me whether I knew a Cigarette Lighter was in the stiching of the bag. I don't smoke but this bloody disposal lighter was right in the stiching I had no idea how it got there. They had completely unstiched the entire bag and found a bloody Bic disposable lighter. I could not bloody believe it. One of the guys I was in Vegas with smoked and we took a helicopter trip over the Grand Canyon and I had my backpack that day and I carried some of his stuff including the bloody lighter and somehow it must of got worked into a cavity in the stiching.

They brought a nice lady from United and asked if she was happy for me to fly and she kindly rebooked me at no cost. But TSA did not give me a new backpack as it was essentially my fault for carrying a lighter.

It was an interesting experience that is for sure. I am not keen on another round though.

The moral of the story check and recheck your luggage.