bogglesuk

Flew ABZ-LHR-PHL-MCO a few days ago - BA to LHR then onwards with AA booked with BA. I don't think the bags actually made it on the LHR flight judging by the air tags but AA stuck 4 of them on the next PHL flight and randomly one went to ORD.

Anyway, AA were very good about it, their bag tracking on the app is very good and all bags arrived less than 24 hours later. The 4 bags that went via PHL had all their TSA approved locks cut by customs and border protection in PHL. Weirdly, the one that went via ORD was fine.

I've read online that TSA don't give CBP the keys to access these locks(!) so is trying to claim worthless as the airline will say CBP need to access the bags so tough luck? If i am able to claim, would BA or AA be my first point of call?

GUWonder

The TSA lock keys are publicly available for sale, and they aren’t all this expensive:

https://shop.multipick.com/en/openin...y-set-7-pieces

You could even make your own for the last several years: https://www.wired.com/2015/09/lockpi...leaked-photos/

And some of them are very easily pickable without:


Not that zippered bags with loose locks are all that secure to begin with, as it’s child’s play to open them with or without even permanently damaging them.

ORD seems more considerate with bags than PHL, both with regards to TSA and with regard to CBP.

If you think TSA did the damage, then look at this on how to proceed with a claim:

https://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/fi...ge_rev6_28.pdf

And for CBP:

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Artic...20the%20agency.

bogglesuk

The locks were part of the case. CBP have taken the pliers to them and left their calling card inside the case. Am assuming BA/AA would say not our fault and trying to go through CBP would involve more of my time than its worth?

corporate-wage-slave

CBP won't be helpful here, so you can rule that one out.

Your best bet is your travel insurance. Then if was BA that led to your bags missing the flight and thus unattended for CBP purposes, you could try to get BA to pay for the damage, and there is some scope within the Montr�al Convention on this. I'm not clear what the airtags were saying here, but if they go to T3 in time and were left there, then it's AA that is on the hook, and very good luck to you. Broadly speaking damaged baggage is handled by the final carrier (which again suggests AA).

It's not a good idea to lock bags these days, with the exception of firearms where particular rules apply. You are locking them against baggage handlers who are CCTV'd and searched, and who know what will happen to them if they are caught; and CBP/TSA, who have good reason to gain access to bags. Everyone else is going to smash their way into a case if it's worth their while. Zip ties (cable ties) are probably the most useful alternative but even then I have my doubts.

ratechaser

Just reinforces my view that locking bags is pointless from a security perspective. Fine I guess if you just want something to hold the zips from opening, well, until something like this happens...

Best of luck to the OP, but I have never and will never lock a bag that goes in the hold.

GUWonder

Do you have a photo of the CBP notice inside? Did the CBP apply CBP-labeled tape to reseal the bag?

I would make the claim initially with the airline. Unlikely as it is, it could be that the lock got broken before it got to CBP, CBP found the bag open and thus decided to dig into it too. TSA and CBP will say they aren’t liable for locks they break as part of security precautions, but at times that’s sort of like airlines with their contracts of carriages claiming things that don’t necessarily hold up in all circumstances.

Never Stansted

Funny that this only ever really happens in the USA but is apparently necessary for 'safety'.

Dan72

Expect not locking baggage makes sense on many routings, but suspect it depends on where you travel. There are still large swathes of the world's airports that don't offer the reassurance of CCTV monitoring or proper supervision. Locks also help prevent items being placed in your bags.

revorgap

Agreed for some places more baggage security is needed, wrapping bags can make them more tamper-evident.
Most bags with zips can be opened with a pen even if locked.

Howard Long

FWIW on those occasions that I check a bag, I use a small loosely attached coloured cable tie on the zippers where the TSA (or other) padlock would usually go. I keep a small stash of them with each bag.

This readily identifies whether the bag may have been tampered with when it arrives, and the bag can easily be opened by an agent. I can easily open it at the other end with a nail clipper. I consider it just enough deterrent to discourage a nefarious intrusion, as cable ties aren't easily removable by hand.

paperwastage

That's part of the purpose of the built-in lock.

If you use a standalone lock, someone can use the pen/zip trick, re-zip it back up and you wouldn't know

If you use the built-in lock, someone can still use the pen/zip trick but can't easily re-zip the bag due to the zipper handle locked. Of course, this is just a deterrence, and you run into OPs issue (actual zipper broke/cut open)

FlyingUnderTheRadar

I just used pieces of copper wire or split rings that can be reused. The wire is like a heavy duty bread bag tie. Except TSA would not put them back on. I filed a claim for replacements. At first TSA denied my claim they had be be able access my bag. A lawyer friend after reading the denial said I should file a federal tort claim (they would represent me pro-bono) as it would be comical and cost the TSA as they would summarily lose. Instead I sent it to my congressional representative for their assistance. A few weeks later the TSA "reviewed" my claim and decided to pay me.

Dan72

Agree. Never use zipped baggage, always old school hard suitcasing from samsonite. Not the most fashionable, but I think that can help too. I fear blingy baggage could invite trouble.

GUWonder

The OP should be glad they didn’t have one of those bling bling Rimowa’s with the built in locks. Or maybe it should be US DHS that is glad since it could end up paying up. Administrative searches that are permitted ought to be as minimally intrusive as required to perform the job — arguably, breaking someone’s bag and not finding any problem could be a sign of failing to be minimally intrusive.

SarahWest

I use cable ties in an assortment of unusual colours to keep zips closed and on Pelican cases. It's not that they'll stop someone getting in, but I'll be able to tell if they have, as the perpetrator is highly unlikely to have ties in the same combination of colours. I obviously don't keep the spare coloured ties in my checked bags but my carry on.

I've also modified zipped luggage by putting eyelets in so that a cable tie secures the zips in position and the zips can't be run backwards and forwards to reclose a compromised zip.