baggage locks USA
 

Apologies for posting this here. I am sure there is probably a thread for this kind of thing - but I did look - honestly!
I am visiting USA next week.
When I visited last year the locks on my hold baggage were cut on both flights, and a note was left inside the bag by TSA to say they had inspected the contents.
Does this happen often, or was I unlucky?
This time, should I buy cheap locks expecting that they might be cut or if I use a SafeSky lock do people have experience that TSA will use a master key to open it?

You should use TSA locks - mine are integrated into the suitcase, but you can just as easily buy separate ones. I don't have experience of my suitcases being opened.

My 'SafeSky' lock has been opened a few times with no subsequent problems!

We have used the Safesky lock since it was required and only had a problem once where the TSA employee forgot to put the lock back after he inspected our luggage. The other 19 times that I found a letter inside telling us that our luggage was inspected, our luggage was correctly locked and none of our content had disappeared. Those safesky locks are not really expensive. OK, we had bought ours in the USA where everything is cheaper than in the UK.

You can buy TSA approved lots to which they have a key which occasionally they use rather than the bolt cutters.

Personally I leave all my luggage unlocked, anything of particular value goes in my hand luggage I leave any unwashed clothes near the opening. So far not had anything go missing.

No locks on my bags but I did get the note for the first time the other day a LAS-SLC of all routes! (Maybe they thought it was a weird contrast and hence suspicious!)

And consider using cable ties (ziplock ties) to keep your bag closed. Most bag locks are fairly ineffectual anyway, arguably counter-productive, and if you travel on to somewhere without a TSA master lock then that's not much help either. There aren't many people with scissors in airports so if the cable tie is of serious thickness that is probably as good as it gets.

Maybe I'm the only one who hadn't joined the dots on this point, but it's a very good one!

I don't lock my bags either, but I'd go with cable ties if I wanted to feel more secure. I've had TSA visits in my luggage a few times. I wonder if locked or not is part of their profiling.

On a recent trip to the US, the TSA (I assume) cut my lock even though it is an integrated TSA approved one. They also removed the batteries from my "suspicious" device (a blood pressure monitor FYI!) :mad:

1. If your bag appears to contain contraband or is selected at random, it will be opened by TSA. If it is locked, the locks may be cut unless you have a TSA-lock in which case TSA may use its key (or may not).

2. Locking bags is a relatively useless exercise in the US. It simply points bad guys to bags which may be worth stealing / rifling. Any of the people who have access to your bags, also have access to something that can cut a lock or a tie. Thus, you merely increase the chances of theft.

If you do want to simply prevent an inadverdent release of the luggage closure, do use a tie as that will stop the bag from fully opening.

I use Master Lock combo TSA locks with flexible cables which you can easily find in 4-packs for less than $25.

There was a period a few years ago when the TSA would search my bag and forget to reattach the lock, but it's been a long time since that's happened (and I always pack a spare lock for the return journey, just in case).

Cable ties are fine, but it the TSA opens your bag they won't reattach them when they're done (even if you have some spares taped to the inside lid of your bag).

Buy cheap locks. The TSA locks are nice in theory but they still just cut them open when they cant be bothered to find the master key. I would never again buy a suitcase with an integrated lock, or at least never lock it. They will just force it open and ruin the bag.

Better yet, cable ties.

This thread was originally posted in the BA forum, however, it has been moved to this forum as it is specifically about security.

LTN Phobia
Moderator: BA forum

My bag locks have been opened by TSA dozens of times over the years. They have been cut off about 40% of the time. They have only left the note once.