China ... locking bags required?
 

I will be going to China next week.

My travel operator sent me a 'form letter' stating all bags needed to be locked for inter China air travel.

Is this really a requirement?

It is so easy to break into bags that generally I think locks help not at all.

Furthermore, my bags open at multiple places so I will need multiple locks.

Any thoughts?

I travel domestically in China a lot. One time, I was told at check in I had to have a lock (out of probably 50 flight last year) other than that, I have never used one or had issues with baggage. I travel with one in my bag now to comply. Frequently, no one checks, so it is not a problem. Weight and number of bags is a separate issue. They really police the weight limit and charge you extra. I think they also limit you to one bag. Watch how you pack. Hotel laundries are good and cheap in China if you stay a few days in one place. I now travel light and wash once or twice while there.... China hotels are terrific values... Stay at nice one's you won't regret it...

Locked bags stop things falling out accidentally - after all even a half trained monkey can get into a locked bag

As this is focused on travel within China, please follow the discussion in our Travel->China forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

I've flown both Intra and Inter China and never locked my bags. Nor has anyone mentioned to me that I should. But it does bring up an interesting situation if one is flying Inter-China from/to the US. Since TSA frowns upon locked baggage (unless of course it is locked with their own "special" locks.) So one country wants you to the other doesn't. Sounds like fun to me. :(

Given that I carry on most anything of value with I fly, I have never had any instances of anything growing legs and walking away.

I have one check-in agent pointed it out that my bag has no lock. He still took it, but it seemed like he has never seen anybody check-in a bag without a lock. He was probably questioning my sanity more than anything else.

Same here, never lock my bags, both intra and inter China. Late 90's I had several instances where my locked bags were opened anyway, so just stopped locking them and taking all valuables carry on.

I ALWAYS lock luggage. Multiple locks for bags with multiple openings. When going intl from China-USA or vice-versa, I use TSA-approved locks. Between China-other countries, or domestically within China, I use any lock.

If you happen to travel without locks (or forget, as I once did flying PEK-BKK and leaving home in a rush), most Asian airports have some place near check-in where you can either have your luggage strapped or shrink-wrapped for a pittance, and I've sometimes had this done.

Never lock my bags, and nothing has ever been taken (knock on wood). Depends on weighting though. Usually you can get away with a few extra kilos (I've done upto 5), and if you speak Chinese and beg/flirt around you can get lucky and they will lower your fee (I was 20kg over) a bit. My fee got reduced to 15-10 and if my Chinese was better I am sure I could have done much better. Being sociable to the check in girl always helps.

How much of a concern is this for carry on? We only travel with carry on..at the correct measurements but usually pretty heavy! Will be flying MU from SHA to PEK.

No one looks at carryons. If they bug you about it, act clueless. If you see some of the things the Chinese and the Indians, (I'm of Indian descent and have lived in China before) carry on (weightwise) I am sure you would be shocked.

In other words, don't worry.

I won't worry about the lock. Most airlines have a waiver form you can sign if you don't have a lock. Of course, I never believe those flimsy luggage locks really do anything.

I had an agent talk to me about locks in Taiwan once, but I just pretended to not understand and they let me through. I would just feign ignorance.