Originally Posted by
T.J. Bender
...what do you do with the key?
I bought a couple of very non-TSA-compliant luggage locks today for use on my rollaboard and my computer case, and it occurs to me that I'm not quite sure what to do with the key. Keeping it on me would alert the WTMD, putting it inside of my locked luggage would be, well, problematic, and leaving it in an exterior pocket defeats the purpose.
1) Combination lock
2) Lock-shaped objects from dollar stores have equally cheesy keys with as much metal as a Levi's rivet, but frustrate unauthorized entry. If they want to get in badly enough, they'll just slash the bag anyway.
3) Computer cables lock your laptop to something larger. Technique has risks of its own, but makes it far more difficult to slip your notebook unobtrusively into the hidden pocket.
All of these are 80% solutions. Only whole-system reform/elimination can address the rest.
Wishing you good results.