Been through three US airports outbound on international in the last few months, Idlewild, (named after the golf course perhaps?) Dulles and Philadelphia.
Each time the drill was the same. Check in and after check in take massed suitcases to security X ray (or whatever ray) machine. Each time waited until bags had gone through machine telling TSA chaps that we would stand by to open up for them as necessary. No problems and in any event, suitaces always locked or padlocked with those lock straps or padlocks to which the TSA are meant to have the keys.
It really is not a problem but of course, what are you allowed to bring back into the UK free of customs charges? Is it £125 worth of kit per head? Not a lot for two people really, $500?
So your real worry then will be the potential smuggling charge as you pass through the green door at your UK arrival airport with more than that amount of US purchases.
