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You may carry with you on the airplane two small pieces of luggage carry-on bag as well as one personal item such as a purse, briefcase, laptop computer case, or camera case. In addition, you can check a specific number of suitcases with the air-line.
Because federal screeners now screen all checked bags and even open some of them for additional inspections, you should avoid overstuffing your suitcases so that they can easily repack any bag and close it after it has been opened. Put your footwear (shoes, boots, sneakers, etc.) on top of the other contents, and spread out any books and files you are carrying in the suitcase. Never put film in a checked bag, as the latest scanning machines will damage it; instead, put it in your carry-on bag. Place personal items, such as cosmetics or shaving kit contents, in plastic freezer bags so that screeners can view them without losing any-thing. Write your name, address, and phone number on index cards and place one in each checked bag, along with bag tags on the outside.
Finally, do not lock your suitcases when you check them at the airport, as federal screeners may literally break the locks in order to examine the contents. If they damage your luggage in any way as a result of opening your bags for screening or security reasons such as breaking a padlock or tearing zippers in the process the TSA is not responsible under current federal regulations for repairing or replacing your suitcases. However, in September 2004, the Transportation Security Administration began settling claims filed by passengers who claimed that their belongings were stolen, lost, or damaged when their checked suitcases were screened at the airport for potential bombs or weapons (the average award: $110).
If TSA screeners do open your bag for inspection, they will place a note inside it telling you that the bag was opened and then reseal it with a tamper evident tag. TSA also recommends that you use cable ties purchased at a hardware store in lieu of locks. In the future, TSA will provide special seals that you can attach yourself at the airport.
If you arrive at your destination to find that items are missing from your checked bags after they were inspected by TSA screeners, notify your airline and TSA officials immediately.

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