Is the whole luggage thing that bad...I had planned on taking a large bag to check with stuff for my BF and his boys....I have sent stuff to them and it takes forever, so I thought I would bypass the system by taking it with me in on my trip in Nov

It all depends, sometimes its bad sometimes not too bad. Make sure it has a lock on your bag and nothing expensive in there that you can take in your carryone. Rupert was talking to a guy at the airport before he left and found some interesting facts that happen. All I can say is carry cell phone and camera on you not in your bag and put a lock on it!

If they check your baggage in customs, it is bad. At Christmas time, I had to pay in customs for everything I brought them. And, even with all the stupid receipts, I ended up having to pay more then I paid for the darn gifts. It was such a crock and I was steaming by the time I finally got out of there.

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If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame...

Give us some stories, Swell. Inquiring minds want to know! What are they rifling through bags? Might be why it takes so long for the luggage to make it onto a carousel.

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If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame...

This happened to me last Christmas as well...Tried to be honest and went through customs to declare..paid more then what they were worth.. Now I would make sure all tags are off and stuff out of boxes. If they question I would say they are mine to use..definately not gifts. and I would not go through the declaring line. They rarely check your bags going through the other line! IMO

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LOVE LOCKDOWN

Yah, I learned that the hard way too, DG. I just didn't want to get caught. Since, then, I have smuggled in lots of even more expensive equipment and such without any issues. Makes you kind of sad you can't be honest about the whole thing.

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If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame...

Well, lets just say they guy said he makes almost $30,000J a day on the side cause he's one of the guys that check the weight. He said that yes if a bag is not locked they will go thru it, people get nuff phones etc, and sell them. If someones bag is overweight he tells them how much it will be according to the airline, then if the person says they can't pay he tells them something lower and pockets the money!
He said they only make $4000J a week so any extra money they make is great. I would rathger pay a guy $20US to go in his pocket than $100 for extra baggage!

I suppose no one finds out until everyone has to do that and the plane goes down into the sea because it is lopsided or overweight. NICE!!!!!! Great, now something else to worry about.

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If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame...

My thoughts exactly! Cause u know I hate to fly to begin with!

Really wish you lived closer, Swell. We could freak out together.

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If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame...

Wow I got lucky cause I always do carry on but the time i bought a playstation 2 over stupid Air Ja made me check it!! I was sooooo nervous but luckily it was there. And my bad didnt have a lock on it!!! Phew!! I never declare not a single thing. They ask whats in my bag and I say clothes and shoes! I never give them the inclination that I know anyone there as I think that makes them think you may be bringing stuff.

JG you have a JA passport now????

You did get lucky then, Missty. The thing is, I thought you couldn't put a lock on the luggage.

No, not a JA passport. I have a new US passport in my married name. Since my husband is a Jamaican national, I can now go through the nationals line with him. Is that nice or what?

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If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame...

Thats the best part cause there is never a line in there!
Who knows JG maybe Ill come visit one weekend its probably what an 8 hour drive I can do that no sweat! Ive driven to FL many times and its 24 hours!@

Sure is that line is so much shorter!!!!!!!!!!!
And I thought you could put those locks that the TSA can open. Not sure I never bother. i try to just get through security as easy as possible.

That would be so cool, Swell. I personally don't drive long distances at all. Hate it. I'm a flyer. We are going to Chicago in October, 5 hours or so away, and we are flying. Tried the car and the train and hated both.

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If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame...