Plastic ties on luggage
 

Was planning on securing my check in luggage with a colored plastic zipper tie instead of the TSA lock during my trip to Tanzania in August. If they needed to open it, they'd cut it off and replace it with one of their generic black zipper ties. Just occurred to me, I don't know how I'd get it cut off once I'm at my location since I can't carry scissors or a knife on me? Any ideas?

Put a pair of cheap scissors or wire cutters in an outside pocket of the checked luggage, one that you can access independent of the main cavity that is sealed with the plastic ties. Even a nail clipper should work. And, actually, you could carry a nail clipper in your carry-on luggage.

By the way, you cannot assume that TSA will replace your plastic ties if the screeners need to do a physical search.

One suggestion: pack extra zip ties in the same exterior pocket of the luggage, so if the screeners cut off the ties, they will have replacements immediately available and are more likely to put them on.

+1

I zip-tied a bag that I checked from MCI-IAD-LHR. When I landed in LHR, the original tie was still connected, however, I was unable to find a pair of scissors at LHR.. In the end, I used my car keys to cut the tie..

See, that's the one thing that keeps me from doing this more regularly. If I'm not allowed to carry on my pocket knife, I'm not sure how I can remove the zip-tie once I get to my destination ... without wandering around asking for help ....

If you're headed to a hotel from the airport, I can pretty much assure you that you'll find a pair of scissors or a knife at the hotel. :D

Or put a small pocket knife (like a mini swiss knife, a cheapo) in the non-secured pocket.

HTSC

I use zip ties all the time when I'm checking in expensive wine. They provide the best evidence of someone tampering with your luggage. I try to buy unusual color zip ties as that would prevent someone from opening and re-zipping and not being detected.

Hoping there is a pocket, I'm using a duffle supplied by the tour company that I haven't yet received. Nail clippers are a definite option though.

I even asked people behind the various rental car counters, and they told me that they were not allowed to give pax scissors....

a lighter??

I'm not really sure how having a zip tie would help regardless - is it the idea that you are going to secure the bag? So lets say you get to your destination and the tie is gone, what then? Even without the zip tie, its going to be pretty evident somone tampered with you luggage anyway once you open it - how will the zip tie change that? You'll know to brace yourself before you open it? If they are going to get in, thats not going to stop them.

I had always used zip ties and carried a small nail clipper, sans file, until one flight where my bag came down with the zip tie intact BUT a gash that went all around three edges of the top that was sealed with duct tape and the card inside that my luggage had been "opened" for inspection. When I complained about the destruction I was told that I should not have "locked" it and I would not be reimbursed. The knife that destroyed my 3 trip old suitcase could have easily popped the zip tie, guess that agent was having a bad day.

I use a small flat headed screwdriver - the sort you'd use for spectacles (eyeglasses) or for small screws on electronics. If you look at the design of cable ties you find that you can lift the locking tab with the screwdriver.

It also means you can reuse the tie :D

I try to buy the colored multi-pack and put one of each color into an outside pocket. I did have TSA open my bag once, and they replaced the tie with a different color. Don't make the loop too tight and you can break it by inserting a hotel pen and twisting it. Of course it may break the pen too, but it is a hotel pen so who cares. If I know I will be checking a bag round trip, I will put a cheap ($3) leatherman tool in the outside pocket since they can come in handy on the road.

Why bother? I figure it helps reduce the chance of the zipper getting pulled open and dumping the contents of my luggage all over the tarmac. It may also send a thief on to the next easy target without a tie, or with a TSA lock they have a key for.

If the suitcase is the kind that uses just a plastic zipper like most rollers it really doesn't matter if it is locked or zip tied. All that is needed to open it is a simple ballpoint pen.

FB

rinnylynn, welcome to Flyertalk!

Do you know at which airport this pointless destruction of your property was done? How long ago?

Was this response from TSA, or from the airline?

There is no excuse for such pointless destruction of property; sorry you had to deal with this. :mad:

To OP: I too use zip-ties in bright colors as mentioned by other posters, as well as TSA locks with indicators, depending on which luggage a trip requires. Either way, I know as soon as I my bag comes off the carousel whether it has been invaded, and can document that any losses occurred while it was in the airline's/TSA's control. (When I have to travel heavy, substantial effort and expense is at stake; expat relatives have requested U.S. goods or replacement parts, or I may need activity-related clothing and equipment for holidays with them.) Have had TSA 1) cut zip-ties and replace them with black/white ties, 2) cut but not replace them, and 3) cut then leave zippers open. They also cut, or fail to replace, TSA locks quite often.

A determined thief can get into any luggage; my philosophy is to make mine less inviting. I don't use luxury brands either; I assume thieves expect an $800 Vuitton far more likely to contain comparably valuable booty than a $100/set Costco wheelie.

The easiest way, so long as you remember to leave enough space for the pen, and no solicitious TA "helpfully" tightens it as you check in! :)

(Now I usually trim the ends to a stub.)

(edit) Doh, you meant that the zipper itself is insecure, sorry. This too is a vulnerability. Again, it's impossible to deter all theft, but deterring casual theft takes little effort, and is worthwhile when it works.

I always use bright yellow zip ties to secure my checked bags. It is instantly obvious at baggage claim if my luggage has been opened. So far it's only happened twice. Once going to Europe, a black zip tie was on one bag, the other still had the yellow. Other than nail clippers taken from an inside pocket, nothing else looked disturbed. Once, coming from TXL, one bag arrived without a zip tie. There were tags from the Bundessicherheitsdienst or some such agency. Some severely OCD person had neatly folded and arranged the contents. Nothing was missing. The other bag still had the yellow tie. I always travel with nail clippers in my carry on to cut the ties, except during the time they were considered dangerous. I usually leave an extra in an outside zipper pocket of a checked bag in case nail clippers are again deemed weapons.

Sure, zip ties will not prevent theft but neither will locks. If the ties are missing, at least you will know to check the contents before leaving the airport.

I use these:

http://www.tamperseal.com/images/lar...gage-seals.jpg

They are designed for one-time use and can be removed without tools when you arrive at your destination. They also have unique serial numbers.

One simple ball point pen is all that is needed to get in that suitcase that is pictured and it will be done without distrubing that seal at all. You would not be able to tell the suitcase had been opened at all. I can't figure out how to get a picture to post either. I am just too tired.

http://videosift.com/video/How-To-Op...Pen?loadcomm=1

FB

Yes, I'm aware of that.

I was simply pointing out that there are alternatives to standard zip-ties (which are difficult to remove without tools).

That's a nice alternative.

And Firebug4: sure, a determined thief can always get into any particular piece of luggage ... just like a determined thief can always get into any particular automobile, or office, or home. There's nothing you can do to defend against that threat. What you can try to defend against is the casual thief ... the one looking for a brief opportunity to make a grab-and-go move. A simple zip-tie or TSA lock would be enough to discourage the casual thief and make him move on to the next bag.

I always use zip-ties and carry a pair of fingernail clippers with me. Never a problem.

+1. I put an old pair of cuticle cutters in an outside pocket or in my carryon.

Any luggage lock is more to avoid accidental opening or half-hearted theft than to be a serious anti-theft obstacle.

On a happier note, I wound up checking my carryon from MAD-FRA-ORD without any kind of lock since a friend had given me a bottle of wine in MAD. At ORD the zipper had come open about 3 inches but everything was still there.

We're all a bunch of 1st graders. :rolleyes:

+1 The goal of most "security systems" is to cause the thief to steal from someone else.

As to the specific point of zip ties, it allows a clear sign upon retrieval of your bag to know that someone has been inside. This allows you to escalate prior to leaving the airport which is often critical in getting anyone to take your claim seriously.

This comes up from time to time here over the years, and it's actually pretty funny to look back at the threads as they start with nail clippers, then clippers are banned, then they are OK, etc.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...able-ties.html

To me the removal key is not to pull it so tight you can't slip something into it to twist it off. Pen, binder clip, key, etc.

twist ties on luggage
 

I have just used twist ties (like the ones that come with some trash bags), mainly to keep the zippers together on the luggage. I thought it might also deter TSA from making a mess of my contents - and it probably has; I only saw signs of my luggage being gone through once.

But maybe I will try zip ties now. I was considering TSA locks, but then I thought that the screeners might be more likely to open them because they are less of a hassle to deal with than twist ties would be.

Why would zip ties be better than twist ties, other than the obvious fact that you could instantly tell when TSA had gone into a bag with zip ties (if you used a unique color)?

They are stronger, they are harder to remove.

This video is MUCH more educational or something... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGYmbQ9MZMI

while knives arent allowed scissors are like the 5" surgical sharp fiskar scissors in my back that i can disassemble with my finger and have not one but 2 knives. This is inaddition to the trauma sheers i carry.

I use serial numbers zip ties (White/UV/Glow in the Dark) on my bag and leave generic black in the flap for them to reseal it. none have been cut so far

we have been doing this for more than 10 years now. Pocket knife goes into the outside pocket of the checkin luggage to open at destination.

NOTHING I repaet NOTHING is going to stop a determined thief but a coloured cable tie will allow easy detection of tampering. In our case and about 5.000 pices of luggage later (since we often travel with groups) we have only had them missing a handfull of times. The first thing we do when our luggage comes off the belt is to look if the tie is still in place. If not roll your luggage over to customs or any law inforcement officer in the baggage area and tell them you lauggage has been tampered with. Open it in their precense and if there is something inside that isn't supposed to be there you should at least be in the clear. Theft isn't the main concern although that is a pain in the you know what - ending up as an unwilling mule is far more dangerous. especially in certain parts of the world.

For What It's Worth.
 

^ IF you have access to nothing else the edge of a credit card run rapidly across will cut it. May have to run across twice but it works.@:-)

I have never had problems with a nail clipper (no file) and using that to clip zip ties. On rare occasion when my zip ties have been opened, they have usually (not in every location) been replaced. I use these for our dive bags, and carry extra zip ties; I tend to use the serialized ones because they look like maybe it's a government property, but I have used both for many years - at least 45 - with nary a problem.

FWIW ...
 

I'am always able to open mine in seconds with the help of a large safety-pin :D

If your bag has a loop at one end of the zipper (part of the bag, not the zipper), loop the zip tie through that as well as through the zip pulls.

It's pretty difficult to 're-heal' a plastic zipper after you've broken through if you can't slide the zipper pulls.

I have a couple very old (>40 years) duffel bags that have metal zippers that also limit/prevent access with a ball point pen.

I have always used nail clippers as well. They are attached to my key ring that I carry-on.

Twist tie person here. I can usually tell quickly whether or not it has been tampered with. Cheaper than zip ties and easier to remove. Only ever had one thing disappear--my favorite travel umbrella.

We've used both plastic ties and TSA approved lock - and had both removed and not replaced, with cut damage to brand new luggage when we used the lock.

They removed a stainless steel water canister we use for camping from the check luggage one time and a travel stove (no fuel) the other time.

And damaged the luggage each time. Brand new (expensive) suitcase is now pretty much useless.

FYI, According the TSA website, you can carry on pliers/wire-cutters as long as the length does not exceed 7 inches and scissors as long as the length does not exceed 4 inches.

However, don't try those in Europe, where the maximum length is 6 centimetres for both (a little over 2 inches).

Or in the U.S. where they don't know what the rules are.