Balikbayan boxes being raided?

[YourHumboldtBud 2]

Balikbayan Boxes typically have a size limitation with no weight restriction. Depending on where you live and the availability and arrival/departure of a Philippine bound ship the Balikbayan Box can take anywhere from several weeks to several months. I've heard of too many horror shipping stories with a multitude of carriers, yet the only company I've never personally had issues with is LBC. My family has been sending packages through LBC as long as I can remember without any problems. The last time we sent a box which was around November 2012 the cost was around $65 from San Francisco to Davao del Sur.

We usually send Balikbayan boxes home around the holidays or several months prior to a scheduled trip to PI. Clothes, food like heavy canned goods, pasalubong, we will usually send ahead of time. With all the different weight/luggage restrictions between International and Domestic carriers here and especially in PI, it's so much less of a hassle to bring everything ahead of time. Example, United Airlines allows you to check in 1 piece of luggage of up to 50 lbs, and 1 carry-on(Mainland USA), yet if you leave from Hawaii you can carry 1 piece of luggage up to 70 lbs. Then upon arrival to PI to fly domestic you typically can carry up to 7kg(15 lbs) total, any additional weight will cost around 150Php($3) per Kilo(2.2 pounds), UNLESS you prepurchased your ticket ahead of time online and bought additonal luggage weight option... and thats only dealing with one of the several domestic airlines in PI

[Jnaz 0]

Interesting news I daw today.. applied to this topic so i thought I'd share.

Never put your valuables in your check in luggage!

[Hank_ 9,174]

Tough to do when the valuable is a firearm and has to be in the checked luggage, as that butt-wadd knew, he stole a large number of guns.

[Jnaz 0]

Tough to do when the valuable is a firearm and has to be in the checked luggage, as that butt-wadd knew, he stole a large number of guns.

I've always thought they needed to have a separate check in for firearms. Maybe keep checked in firearms in a locked compartment somewhere in the plane. Especially with this news, the fact that a TSA luggage handler can easily access firearms via passenger's luggage doesn't bode well for airport security. Not to sound all paranoid but let's just say this TSA employee was in cohorts with some very bad people, all he'd have to do after accessing the firearms is find a way to hand it over to someone who's already passed the security check and waiting to board.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Homeowners insurance will usually pick up the difference between what the airlines pay for the lost luggage and what the lost items cost. My rifle goes into a locked case - no doubt what is inside that luggage.

[Hank_ 9,174]

I've always thought they needed to have a separate check in for firearms. Maybe keep checked in firearms in a locked compartment somewhere in the plane. Especially with this news, the fact that a TSA luggage handler can easily access firearms via passenger's luggage doesn't bode well for airport security. Not to sound all paranoid but let's just say this TSA employee was in cohorts with some very bad people, all he'd have to do after accessing the firearms is find a way to hand it over to someone who's already passed the security check and waiting to board.

The luggage handler works for the airlines not TSA, which actually makes things worse as they work on the "other side" of where the TSA folks are.

When I have had a handgun in my luggage the TSA agent has asked me to be there when he opens the luggage to inspect it. All luggage with firearms in it are to have a tag on the outside which makes it really easy for that luggage handler to know which bags to ramsack.

Edited April 9, 2013 by Hank_

[Michael and Milahjean 0]

It is not unusual for somebody travelling back to the Philippines, to fill a half-dozen or more of the boxes with all their clothes and stuff, then ship it a month or so ahead of time to a family member. Then, when they arrive, everything is ready for them. After they leave, the family member will pack everything back up, and ship what they didn't want to leave behind back to their residence in the US.

Did exactly that for our fourth trip back to Phils in seven years, just arrived back in US last Friday. Shipped three boxes in January, but took ridiculous amount of time to be delivered, not sure why. All boxes arrived intact during our visit to Leyte. Is quite a thrill to actually be there when the goodies arrive. Boxes arrived in great condition, no damage and no signs of being opened. Was surprised that they had been individually bagged in a very large white woven fiberglass bag, sealed very securely and plastic banded across width, length and height. The delivery guys had all boxes on one two-wheel cart, practically dragging them down the rough rocky path to my asawa's family home, after dark. They snapped a photo of me with the stack for proof of delivery.

M&M

[actob99 156]

The luggage handler works for the airlines not TSA, which actually makes things worse as they work on the "other side" of where the TSA folks are.

When I have had a handgun in my luggage the TSA agent has asked me to be there when he opens the luggage to

inspect it. All luggage with firearms in it are to have a tag on the outside which makes it really easy for that luggage handler to know which bags to ramsack.

The worker worked for a contractor and that contracting company handles a certain airlines luggage. He was taking items which included firearms, bows and electronics. The firearms and bows are federal charges because of their nature. The suspects wife was meeting him at the airport where he would drop her the items. They will both be in jail

For a very, very long time. With all the security, camera's and servaillence at an airport, you have to be an idiot to think you will get away with it. Weed out the stupid!!!!!!

[Hank_ 9,174]

Ya the airlines are contracting work out to bypass the unions, samo-samo as indirectly they are still working for the airlines... and the big deal is they doesn't pass through TSA screening coming or going. I'm surprised it took the airline as long as it did to catch him.

[mai95 4]

I have had a company go bankrupt and the box was stuck in Manila customs, no way to get it out, don't know what ever happen to it. The store that I shipped it with gave me my next box free and went with another company. So the whole box was gone and everything in it. Luckly nothing to valuable.

I have had small packages opened, and have heard of some others having there boxes opened.

What I do it tape the bottome and top with a colored tape (strong).

[Bayareaguy 156]

I have used LBC and Forex. Never any problems, LBC has been faster, so I only use them now. About a month and a week from N Cali to the Visayas.