Will they search my luggage?

As I was packing tonight and "space bagging" my clothes and various other things it dawned on me, what if they search my luggage?

TRUST ME I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE! LOL but...

I sometimes get little slips in my luggage from the TSA saying hey we searched your bags and well if they open the space bags, nothing will fit back in my suit cases. Anything that isn't clothes is in my suitcases just as is, so they will be able to see those things but now I'm paranoid they will open the bags with no way to close them. I'm also concerned because I have a box that is all taped up on every side and corner so it doesn't bust. It also has "spaced bags" inside it.

Or what if they want to do this on the British end of things?

Am I being a paranoid dork or is this a real concern I should worry about?

TIA 

I vote for paranoid dork...

Well you only gave me 2 options...on the serious side...as long as you're not bringing anything that you shouldn't be then you should be just fine.

Relax woman...you're almost home.

I vote for paranoid dork...

Well you only gave me 2 options...on the serious side...as long as you're not bringing anything that you shouldn't be then you should be just fine.

Relax woman...you're almost home.

At least I provide endless laughs right?

At least I provide endless laughs right?

That you do! 

I came here with my stuff in an old suitcase with a broken zipper.  I know how to get it to zip, but it's kind of tricky.  When my suitcase arrived here, it was wrapped in tape, so obviously they'd opened it and hadn't managed to get it closed again.  Fortunately, nothing was missing.  What I thought was strange, though, is that that was the first time I'd had any trouble traveling with that suitcase, so it couldn't have been opened and searched before.  Don't know why they've started searching bags by hand.  But anyway, if they search your suitcase and can't get it closed again, they'll wrap it in plastic and tape and send it on its way. 

I came here with my stuff in an old suitcase with a broken zipper.  I know how to get it to zip, but it's kind of tricky.  When my suitcase arrived here, it was wrapped in tape, so obviously they'd opened it and hadn't managed to get it closed again.  Fortunately, nothing was missing.  What I thought was strange, though, is that that was the first time I'd had any trouble traveling with that suitcase, so it couldn't have been opened and searched before.  Don't know why they've started searching bags by hand.  But anyway, if they search your suitcase and can't get it closed again, they'll wrap it in plastic and tape and send it on its way. 

The thing is NO WAY NO HOW would they get my suitcases shut again after opening the space bags. They are already jam packed from me trying to get every little thing inside them possible. Tape isn't going to hold them together lol.

Are you sure the suitcase didn't just break open and they taped it for you? An American airline did this for my good friend who flew within the US when hers broke. Meh now I'm all freaked out again lol.

No, they definitely searched it, I'd had a wrapped Christmas gift inside, and they unwrapped it and opened it. 

I'm not talking about a piece or two of sellotape though, this was LOTS of really tough packing tape.  I had a struggle to get it off.  I was trying to reassure you that even if they do search your bags, they'll manage somehow to get them shut again!  Don't freak out!  These are people who see hundreds of overstuffed bags every day.  They're good at getting suitcases shut--as long as the zippers work  

Yeah they'll use industrial strength duct tape if they have to. Don't worry. Smooth sailing from here.

No, they definitely searched it, I'd had a wrapped Christmas gift inside, and they unwrapped it and opened it. 

I'm not talking about a piece or two of sellotape though, this was LOTS of really tough packing tape.  I had a struggle to get it off.  I was trying to reassure you that even if they do search your bags, they'll manage somehow to get them shut again!  Don't freak out!  These are people who see hundreds of overstuffed bags every day.  They're good at getting suitcases shut--as long as the zippers work  

I need some Valium lol  

I've also seen them wrap the entire thing in clear plastic first before they tape it. It's not going to be incredibly easy to handle, but it'll be secure.

I've also seen them wrap the entire thing in clear plastic first before they tape it. It's not going to be incredibly easy to handle, but it'll be secure.

Yeah, now that you mention it, I think there was plastic on mine as well.  The point is that the bag arrived and nothing was lost.  I really wouldn't stress about this!

I've also seen them wrap the entire thing in clear plastic first before they tape it. It's not going to be incredibly easy to handle, but it'll be secure.

Yeah I already have 5 suitcases, 1 box, my laptop and purse. If you can imagine this, I'm 5 feet tall and not the strongest of girls. It's gonna be a regular laugh fest for everyone watching me try to get that all from baggage claim, through customs, the last duty free and to arrivals. Maybe someone will film it all for youtube.  

I'd also like to add that I am very much looking forward to your next thread.

I'd also like to add that I am very much looking forward to your next thread.

HAHAHA why?

I can understand why you worry about the spacebags -- they really do make a miraculous job of shrinking down to size something that would in no way fit in the suitcase along with the other packed items.

But I would hope that, having seen more and more spacebags starting to come through, the staff at airports might even now have a vacuum handy to "re-suck" a spacebag if they've felt the need to open and search it, hopefully.

I brought my down feather full-size comforter quilt, two bed pillows, and two decorative pillows, in a suitcase, also packed with other belongings, all thanks to the miracle of some spacebags, lol. Talk about Mary Poppin's bag with all the items inside. Mercifully nobody seemed to have opened or searched the bag or tried to release the spacebags -- that stuff would never have repacked without the spacebags.

I thought fleetingly about the potential problems if those things had to be deflated/reflated again, but llike I say, hopefully that won't even happen, or if it does they've got to have a vacuum handy I would think. Spacebags must be so frequently seen now.