Krenn wrote:

...

But wait - won't the all-important "did you pack your bags yourself" and "did anyone give you bags to take on the plane" stop them? ;-)

If your friends or family are a little late catching the same plane as yourself, then just answer, "No, my son packed them." This, on the average, gives your companions an extra 10-15 minutes to catch the plane, since regulations require them to do a complete check of your baggage (and they are 'supposed' to take them to a secure area to do so). Since you are ready to board the plane they cannot legally detain you and let the plane go on, in order to process you and your baggage according to proper regulatory procedure. They must, instead, detain the plane. They may jump up and down and tell you this is not so, but I have never missed a plane, and neither have most of my tardy companions.

I don't know which airlines you fly, but the ones I am familiar with ask these questions at the baggage counter (checked luggage) and gate (carry-on items). Since you are supposed to be at the airport one hour before departure, in most instances if you get to the counter or gate less than 10 minutes before take-off your reservations lapse (by Fed rules) and are no longer requred to board you. If they are forced to search you luggage they will, legally, allow the plane to depart w/o you. -- Steve