packing!

Hi All!
Ok. So.  Am starting to pack up the winter clothes I will be taking over to London when I go over for grad school next month, and have just tried the "use a vacuum to suck the air out of XXXL Zip-loc bags then put them in your suitcase" method.  Worked great! I am able to take so many of my lovely sweaters ( I love sweaters).  But I just had an awful thought . . .  what if they open the Zip-locs when they inspect my bags as I am leaving the US??  They will never be able to get all this stuff back into the suitcase!  Has anyone had a problem with this? 

I can't imagine they'd open your bags unless they had a big reason to.  I know if they can't get your suitcase closed again, they'll tape it shut, or put it in a box, so you should be fine.

BTW, how do you suck the air out of a regular ziplock?

We took those giant oversize Zip-loc storage bags, packed them, zipped the zipper almost all the way, then stuck the hose from our central vac in while I sat on the bag to squish it even flatter. After sucking out as much air as possible, we just carefully took the hose out and zipped it shut.  It was kind of funny, really, but it sure did the trick!

I guess I thought they open most bags, but I guess not?  Maybe just x-ray?

We have done this before and never had a problem.   I think since they can see through a zip-lock, I would see no reason to open it further.

One thing to consider is that while you have saved tremendous space by doing this you have not changed the weight of the items.  I highly recommend weighing your suitcase before you get there to make sure you are not over the weight limits for your airlines because you can easily go over.

Good luck.

Thanks! Done!  Came in weighing 5 pounds under, which should give me some leeway in case my scale is wrong, which I am forever hoping it is!  lol

i used those space saver bags to pack in and i did find that one of my bags was searched-- it didn't look like they opened up the space saver bags though, just the case itself.