Prolific Programmer on the Internets!

My laptop usually does travel with me wherever I go. Given my recent research into the post-911 terrorism defence legislation, I'm getting increasingly concerned with my privacy. A timely article in Lifehacker details how to how to avoid laptop searches. Yesterday's note was a little disturbing to me, and I'd like to avoid anything similar in the future.

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Notice of Baggage Inspection

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To protect you and your fellow passengers, the Transportation Security Administration is required by law (Section 110(b) of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001, 49 USC 44901(c)-(e)) to inspect all checked luggage. As part of this process, some bags are opened and physically inspected. Your bag was among those selected for physical inspection.

During the inspection, your bag and its contents may have been searched for prohibited items. At the completion of the inspection, the contents were returned to your bag.

If the TSA security officer was unable to open your bag for inspection, the officer may have been forced to break the locks on your bag. TSA sincerely regrets having to do this, however TSA is not liable for damage to your locks resulting from this necessary security precaution.

For packing tips and suggestions on how to secure your baggage during your next trip, please visit:
www.tsa.gov
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

... And on the flipside, there was a handwritten note, welcome to the list, sir

I don't have the requisite time to read the entire bill, in sections c through e, the only words that indicate this sort of manual search will take place is if the Explosion Detection System is not available. Section c indicates that said explosion detection system was supposed to be in place by December 31, 2002. It's been almost 6 years since then, they're still searching bags manually. If anyone from TSA sees this, would you care to explain why EDS is not available at the Los Angeles airport as yet? And if it is, why was this notice placed in my bag? Many thanks!

Hey, Adam, have you ever tried using your middle name as a way to get around whatever government list you're on, mate? It just may work, well; according to Consumerist, it does.

I talk about my issues with people and companies with a vitriol often associated with certain (unnamed) politicians talking about their opponents. I was in form talking to Tareeq on the telephone last night. At the conclusion of the conversation, he suggested I blog it. So here you go, Mr El-Assam.

Some background, I was recently in the middle east (yes, yes, I know, I still need to upload my pictures). The flights to the middle east (at least Lebanon and Qatar) are rarely nonstop from the States. Most often, flights go through the busiest international airport on Earth, London's Heathrow. More specifically, I'd like to focus on my return transfer at Heathrow. I landed in Terminal 4. Checking the monitors, my next flight wasn't listed. So I walked over to the British Airways enquiries desk and asked the lady whether she would be kind enough to check on the status of my flight. It wasn't listed and the next thing she told me was striking -- I'm sorry, sir, but I can't check flights leaving from other terminals. Ok *rolls eyes*, then would you at least tell me what terminal to find my flight? No, the system won't let me look at that information. Now I know that Britain isn't the most helpful place on Earth, but this takes the cake.

A trip around Heathrow later, I finally arrived at the correct terminal (kudos to BAA for making the signs so helpful). From the ever-helpful PA system, The television monitors throughout the terminal are not working, please stand by. Bugger, I sat down in the transit lounge, after picking up a top-up from Dixon's and charged it. I spied another enquiries desk where I was told that the television monitors were working brilliantly. So, I again looked at the monitor, Gate 56. I made my way to Gate 56, only to find that the lady at the gate informed me that British Airways has changed the gate to Gate 1 -- on the other side of the terminal and where I walked from.

Now Heathrow is a huge airport. So, I went back to the other end of the terminal. Boarded the plane. The PA came on, British Airways apologises for the delay, but it seems that a carton of luggage has been lost. So, they combed every plane at Heathrow, delaying everyone by at least an hour and a half. We then left and I slept till woken for filling out the immigration paperwork to get back into America. We landed at San Francisco and waited another 30 minutes on the tarmac here. I walked up to the immigration desk. A pleasant gentleman from the TSA welcomed me "home", as I handed him my British passport. He asked why I'd travelled to Qatar and the Lebanon. Asked me if I'd brought any food -- I didn't. I got through the immigration, went to baggage claim, collected my bags and left the airport.