68 pieces of luggage found in dumpster

http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/122806/sta_122806071.shtml ^ | Thursday, December 28, 2006 | AP

[RobRoy]

I used to work for a bank. Part of the logistics of the project I worked on involved the re-issuance of millions of credit cards. Of the several airports we could use to initially distribute the high volumes of cards, one was Dallas.

We decided to not use that airport literally because the security risk was so high. I know it's not Houston but...

[RobRoy]

One of my wifes friends manages the people at the last checkout booth before you board planes here in Seattle. One day she was walking through the area below where the passengers wait for planes. She rounded a "dark corner" in an area where you rarely see any employees around and there, right in front of her, were three TSA agents rumaging through a large suitcase with clothing strewn everywhere. At first they were stunned when they saw her. Then one of them acknowledged her presence with a "Move along citizen. Nothing to see here." warning.

My wife and I NEVER check baggage with anything of value. Heck, we rarely check baggage at all. And we fly a LOT.

[SpinnerWebb]

"On TXCN, it was reported that most of the luggage was from International flights originating in Dubai, and London."

That makes even worse as this group of luggage had never been through customs.

Right. The comments of lost luggage are missing the point. This was a materials exchange from Dubai to sleeper cells in the US. Someone needs to take this seriously, and put some heavy investigation into this... NOW.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I agree!

My Niece works the first class check in at IAH and has been at Continental over 20 years.
I Emailed her to ask if there are any rumors about this.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Brilliant move! I lost a carton of smokes bought duty-free so it wasn't a big deal....other than having to wait 6 hours (for the next flight in) for the stray luggage to come in, during which time I knew knew knew those smokes would be gone as sure as the sun rises.

[UpAllNight]

--yet ANOTHER reason why I refuse to fly..I live in georgia and work in baton rouge..if I have another location I have to go to, I have a really big pop-up camper I take with me, use it on the road, get into a hotel when I get where I'm going, and use the pop-up on the way back..not to mention I get to see a lot of the country I'd otherwise not see..sure, it takes me a lot longer to get where I'm going, but it's worth it to me..


There is probably more danger from theft in the motel parking lot than from the airline luggage losses.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I have flown a large amount both domestic and overseas and I only had luggage problems twice.

The first time was at Love field in Dallas on a Braniff flight when the pilots went on strike.
The flight was due in Houston and when we landed in Dallas, the pilots were the first one off with their luggage.
The luggage was finally delivered to my office several days later.
The second time was funny and not the airlines fault.
Our radioman had a trunk full of radio parts missing after a flight.
The President of the company put out a memo that anything worth over X amount had to be hand carried aboard all flights.
One of my crews in South America had dropped and broken the casting on a portable 9 track tape transport.

I called an airline to make reservations with the 75 pound tape transport as carry on.
They asked if it would fit in a seat, yes it would.
So they said I had to buy a first class ticket for me and a half price first class ticket for Mister Suitcase.
I had fun telling the stewardess "Be me a drink and the same for Mister Suitcase.

After I returned to Houston, the company president sent out a new memo "Ignore the first Memo", LOL.

[Erasmus]

"Be me a drink and the same for Mister Suitcase.

"I need to swab down his heads."

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

"Be me a drink and the same for Mister Suitcase."

Should read "Bring me a drink and the same for Mister Suitcase."

[GeorgiaDawg32]

first reason is TSA screening procedures..and their refusal to profile..

[GeorgiaDawg32]

nope, I'm in a camper in a safe campground and have been for the past 5 months...nothin to worry about here..

[Sacajaweau]

No one puts anything of major value in their luggage. Bet they were looking for I.D.....maybe passports..

[cricket]

first reason is TSA screening procedures..and their refusal to profile..

Good enough. . .

For myself; I profile everyone I see in line and particularly those boarding the plane I will board as well. Hope everyone is doing the same. . .(if TSA won't. . .then surely, we should. . .)

Of course, better to have authority behind this. . .but we all need to be - and stay - aware; best we can.)

If a reasonavbe option; prefer driving. . .

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1761589/posts

Update at above thread.

[Fester Chugabrew]

It won't be long till luggage is equipped with GPS transmitters enabling the owner to track it's whereabouts precisely at anytime. Would have been a great tool in this "case."