Originally Posted by
wickedcold
They sure as hell do. Maybe not often, and its very likely that they won't open your luggage, but that's the reason you have to use a TSA approved lock if you plan to lock your luggage (TSA approved means they have a master key that will open it). I don't know what implications this could have, but it is worth knowing none the less.
No, the TSA isn't the airline. Don't confuse the two organizations!
The TSA cares about things that can be used to blow up airplanes. They don't care if it's a bicycle. They have no idea whether or not you were charged extra for your luggage. They have no idea what the particular, peculiar rules about luggage each airline has.
(By the way, the TSA does not like zip ties. They will destroy the zippers rather than cutting the zip ties!!)
(Do not do anything to make the TSA or customs unhappy!)
While it's possible that the airlines are also looking inside your luggage, it's
highly unlikely that it would be worth the extra labor cost for them to do so (once the check-in staff has processed your luggage).
Put another way, once your luggage has been accepted at check-in
by the airline staff,
the airline staff has no real interest in it beyond moving it.