Because the TSA agent, running her hands down my skirt, said she found something. I got taken away to an office for another search where they still didn't find anything, and the supervisor made the TSA agent change her gloves and do it again before they let me go, having found nothing. I was shaking with anger and humiliation, and they had to hold my plane for me.
All because they DON'T change their gloves often enough when they're examining people. I can believe that they change them even more rarely for luggage.
I *do* use packing cubes. I roll up my clothes and pack them very tightly, continuing to push them in until the cube is full. I try to get all of the air out of them. They keep me organized and I think that rolling and removing the air allows me to fit more clothing into a small space (I do carry-on only, and I try to go as small as possible).
Some people like using zip-lock bags because they're cheaper and if your bag is sitting out in the rain for some reason, your clothes might stay dry. I'm not backpacking in the rain, so I prefer the cubes because they allow air circulation. I like the ones that zip around all the way so that they lie flat or almost flat.
= new reply since forum marked as read