My apologies if this has come up before, but have just had my first experience of using supposedly TSA compliant padlocks (I have tried "pacsafe" - http://www.pac-safe.com/product.aspx?pId=678). I am wondering if anyone has had similar experiences?

Two of our bags were padlocked (a large suitcase and a holdall full of ski boots, ski helmets and ski clothes) with PACSAFE TSA approaved padlocks.

Have just flown:
- LHR-DEN (BA)
- DEN-BUR (UA)
- SNA-DEN (UA)
- DEN-HDN (UA)
- HDN-ORD (AA)
- ORD-LHR (BA)

On the LHR-DEN (BA) sector, the large suitcase was "lost" (basically, for some reason or another, it never made the flight... but that is another story). When - 7 days later - it was delivered to us, the PACSAFE padlock was missing, the case now had nothing securing the zip, there was no "security" tag on the bag, there was no TSA/customs note in the case. The top 1/3rd of the case had obviously been rummaged through - the rest appeared untouched. Nothing was missing (but there was nothing of any obvious value - just clothes and shoes - in there in the first place).

At the end of the HDN-ORD-LHR sector (the bag was through checked by AA to the BA flight - so didn't see it inbetween those two sectors), the ski stuff holdall (which had the other PACSAFE padlock) came out with the zip tag ripped/puilled off. The "zip tag" is the bit through which padlock was. So basically the padlock was still hanging onto one end of the zip, but the holdall had been opened (and wasn't even closed back up properly... ). There was no note from the TSA in the bag, but there was a "BA Security Screened" label across part of the zipper. Haven't been through it to see if anything is missing yet - although it doesn't appear any smaller and, again, nothing of any "easy to sell" value was in there.

So in a short period of time (less than 3 weeks), I have lost one padlock and had one bag (or at least it's zip) broken. Those two bags/cases rummaged though and not properly resealed. Despite - as far as I can see - taking suitable procautions that were compliant with the TSA

Fortunately, as you will have gathered, I do not put anything remotely valuable in my case. But am unhappy that there appears to be no way of securing your belongings from "opportunists" taking a rummage through.

Also, I seem to remember, in the early days of the "no locking your case" ruling, I used to get a note from the TSA inside any bag that had be opened (to say that it was searched) AND the TSA did their best to resecure the luggage (i.e. retie a twist tie that I put on there or put some form of tamperproof tie on there). What has happened to this approach?

Any thoughts/advice
Boo
(far too often stupidly ideallistic about the world...)