tom139

Hi Guys,

Sorry if this has come up already. Are we allowed to wear jewellery through security? My mum doesn't want to check any of her jewellery so she has the intention of wearing it all. Is this ok do you think?

Thanks,

tom139

Frequentflyer99

Correct me if I am wrong but I assume that the TSA approved bags etc. can be opened by anyone who has access to whatever the TSA have to open the bags, which seems to be a master-key. Are these something which can be easily replicated ? If so, I would assume that every baggage handler in the US would have access to them, and probably most in the UK.

I have not looked but it would not surprise me to find them selling on Ebay, next door to the DIY F upgrade stamp ....

It reminds me of the old Antler keys (Key Nos. 7, 21, 35 etc) which were readily available and fitted most suitcases. I still have a tin of them somewhere

Halo

TSA approved bags are Samsonite, Delsey, Tumi. If you look into the small print when you purchase cases it basically says that the locks are not for security (i.e. to prevent theft) but basically to limit cases breaking open when thrown around by the baggage handling staff (although they word it nicer ). Case locks are a bit like car locks - anythief can get in to them. The TSA approved padlocks have a little indicator window that changes from green to red if they have been opened by TSA.

quitecontrary

All our Samsonite bags have combination locks - can they be opened by TSA -security?

Halo

In practice yes - mine have been opened and relocked before, just a note inside to say it had been done. HOWEVER they are within their right to simply burst them open. It depends what they feel like! So...if I only had a combination lock I would leave it set to open (in practice it might de facto lock in transit anyway) and would use one of the TSA approved lockable straps.

sueoverend

Security of your valuables is an issue. The wife of one of my colleagues is stranded in Germany having flown out yesterday morning from Stanstead on Ryan air for the funeral of a good friend. Not only is she stranded with only a standby ticket for tonight, they have lost her handbag which they made her check. As she was only going for the day, she has nothing - only a credit card which she kept in her pocket and her passport. Her husband is having to look after their two toddlers - they're due to go on holiday at the weekend, but its very uncertain whether she'll get on the flight back tonight. As she had no luggage, her handbag was sent into the hold - not to be seen again. Ryan Air are hopeless - very difficult to get hold of. No surprise there then!

Swanhunter

It is a times like this that flying a proper airline (and ideally a shiny metallic cards) are a really benefit - vide G-BOAC's post.

dddc

I've advised a friend of mine travelling next week to remove the sim card from his phone before he checks it in to the hold. He hasn't got any pin codes on the phone ( ) so at least if the mobile gets nicked he still has his sim card and won't have unauthorised calls being made.

Does anyone know if they would stop you putting the sim card into your wallet/purse? It's effectively the same as the chip on a modern credit card.

Witch

This will provide a great opportunity for travel insurance companies to increase their premiums! A much higher proportion of expensive/valuable items in your hold luggage (mobiles, laptops, cameras) will mean a higher proportion go "missing".
Just wait for the premiums to go soaring!

jsincla

Couple of things

1. TSA locks all well and good for trips to the US but in Asia they are not acceptable. I have had my checked bags inspected in Asia several times and on one occassion a TSA lock was "cut" to allow inspection. I'd imagine if they couldn't they'd break your zip and wrap/tape it up afterwards.

2. My personal travel policy (Coutts) has advised me today that because passengers are now obligated to check baggage that the exclusions of valuables in checked baggage would no longer apply. The valuables single item limit would still apply as would the total value. The only item they will not insure is a mobile phone - but a laptop (below the single item limit) is fine.

Halo

If you bank with Coutts you might be able to avail yourself of NatWest's mobile phone insurance cover. It comes free for NatWest Advantage Premier customers and covers up to 4 phones I think.

WHBM

Train to Brussels, Lille, Calais. Passenger ticket on ship to Dover (still plenty although Eurostar full). Train Dover to London.

Tough but it can be done.

chucko

I don't know about their availability in the UK, but Pelican cases http://www.casesbypelican.com are lockable, waterproof and pretty much crushproof, and they come in a bewildering array of styles and sizes. I bought one of their wheelie cases for camera gear, but they have cases suitable for laptops, sniper rifles, the lot.

Pelican also offers a "TSA-friendly" combination lock, useful if you're going to be travelling in the USA---TSA inspectors theoretically have the master code to open the case for inspection. In practice, I treat "TSA-friendly" locks as being sacrificial, as a lot of the time the inspectors will simply cut them off, and carry spares.

Boo Boo

I think that the problem with these (at least in my limited experience) is that often the TSA agents are too ignorant/lazy to get/use the proper keys/combinations to open these special "TSA approved" locks and so they just break the locks open and/of neglect/forget to put them back on the bags afterwards (I flew LHR-DEN-BUR, SNA-DEN-HDN-ORD-LHR last January - started with two of my bags loacked with TSA locks, got home back to LHR with neither TSA lock... ).

Yes, you can replace the locks, but you REALLY cannot ensure that your hold luggage is secure... once the locks have gone (possibly at your departure point), there are LOTS of opportunities for little hands to get in at your belongings...

This didn't used to worry me (before yesterday) because I ALWAYS ensured that NOTHING of any value was in my checked luggage (just clothes, shoes, underwear, a few paperbacks and sun cream...).

Husband is unlikely to want to travel without his laptop (has his own business, likes to be able to "check-in" regularly and keep an eye on email), and wouldn't like to not take the digital camera. I guess I could buy a really cheap mp3 player to use at the gym (and leave the i-pod at home) and could buy some cheap jewellery for fancy dinners out (and leave the proper stuff at home in the safe). Will have to see how things pan out...

Either way, as others have pointed out, the current policy (everything be checked into the hold) is going to open the flood gates for a whole load of crooked individuals: both those who want to steal for luggage and those who submit falsified claims for supposed valuables stolen/damaged from checked luggage... grrrrr!

Ok, one long ramble (as usual), but my point is that you can't trust TSA locks/straps/cases to keep your valuables safe...

Boo

Boo Boo

Hhhmmm, doesn't sound too secure either... also, if you are going to use a TSA lock, better to have a £5 TSA lock busted/cut off by a TSA agent than a £150+ suitcase cut/busted open by a TSA agent...

Not the ones I have had - the whole padlock changed from visible to invisible when the TSA agents got their hands on them...

Boo
(in a cynical mood this evening... )