I recently went on intl flight out of Terminal 3. After reading many posts about the use of locks on checked luggage, I asked 3 different TSA agents near the checkin counter if I needed to remove my locks on my luggage. I was more than willing to take them off and put them in my carryon. All three told me I didn't have to take the locks off. They had already checked my luggage through some kind of scanner. My bag was on the belt. They put one of those plastic tie wraps next to my lock. Cool I thought. When I arrive at my destination, my lock is gone while the tie wrap was still there. That pissed me off for two reasons.

1) I have TUMI luggage and those little locks are ridiculously expensive.

2) I spent effort asking 3 different TSA agents about the use of locks. I told them I didn't want them cut and that I was willing to take them off.

I am not probably not going to carry this to the next level. Urban legend or not, I don't want to be on any kind of airport blacklist as I have more trips in the near future. So, after my little bit of venting, just wanted to send out a FYI for those still using locks and flying out of ORD.