As far as profiling is concerned, don’t worry. they profile alright. My friends from India, Afghanistan and Iran are getting hassled a good bit. Me, the WASP male, hardly gets any grief except an occasional token swipe of my camera equipment or shoes.

Maybe 150 terrorists could arm themselves with Utilikeys and totally take apart an entire aircraft in flight. In the final scene the lead terrorist undoes a single screw and the entire machine falls into thousands of pieces. Now that would be a surreal commercial that would get some serious attention.

They’ll just get scissors (even children’s “safety” scissors) and pens (BIC pens?) banned.

After all this is the bureaucracy (airlines + FAA) that left flight deck doors unlocked or locked, at best, with flimsy “one kick” locks, then (TSA etc.) proceeds to make the life of the average traveler hell for 8 years. The height of this idiocy was refusing to “profile” with the result that white grandmothers from Nebraska were being patted down and questioned off to one side, while Harold and Kumar were sweating profusely and muttering from the Koran while boarding without a second glance.

No I’m sorry, the height of this idiocy (if you ignore National Guard with M16′s at the x-ray machines during the first few months) is hassling passengers while baggage inspectors are looting valuables from luggage (yeah, what a secure system!).

But don’t get me started, and thanks for the many links on baggage ties. I didn’t realize there was a hold sub-industry.

Besides, normal nail scissors are also allowed in the carry-on. So getting rid of the zip ties is really not a problem. But you won’t carry the nail scissors with you on the street. So the Utilikey still comes in handy. If ever they do steal it from me, I am out $8. I also do carry a tiny padded envelop with a stamp already on it addressed to myself. If they want to take the key it goes in the envelope and is mailed back home immediately.

A fellow member on FT made a good remark about using zip ties. Of course, you use colored ones. But don’t make the mistake of including replacement zip ties of the same color inside that same bag. The TSA can just take those red replacement zips to replace the original red ones. Make sure the zips for the way back are of a different color. Also cut the “tails” quite short so it doesn’t get caught in the conveyor belts.

In addition, you can go with these highly sophisticated seals:
http://www.tamperseal.com/lugg.....102994758a

Or these, even better:
http://www.tampertab.com/buy.php

http://travelstore.ricksteves......038;id=163