I have had three instances of petty thievery from my checked luggage, and the airline has sent me directly to TSA to file a complaint. The airline has thrown up their hands and disavowed any responsibility for what is a widespread TSA problem.
I reminded the airlines that they are the bailee for my goods shipped under a contract of carriage. However the only apparent recourse is against the TSA/DHS, and a lot of good that will do.
So if the integrity of TSA screeners cannot resist the temptation to petty theft, how effective are they against graver risks?
If they can take something out of my luggage,and out of the screening area, then they can put something in.
I believe that checked bags are quasi-systematically gone through...and if there is any kind of flight delay where the bags are in luggage-purgatory for an extended time, you can count on the disappearance of *anything* of value. I don’t know whether it’s TSA or airline personnel...it’s immaterial, your stuff will be gone. I had a carton of $1.50/pack smokes that I thought had been pretty well disguised...gone. You really have no recourse whatsoever; you cannot prove you had the item(s) in your bags, and the people you talk to have utterly zero interest in causing any problems on their side of things. Just another reason, for me, not to fly.
so much for TSA authorized locks.
just imagine international travel.