Damaged TSA Lock on Checked Bag
 

SEA-JFK-DCA redeye on Mon night ... unfortunately I didn't notice this until I started unpacking at home (~4 hours after picking up the bag, since I had to go to a lunch meeting at my office)

Happens from time to time. You can bend that back, I had same lock and same thing still using it.

Just adds character.

Made of cheap alloy (faux) Chinese Steel - use care in bending it back to its original position.
Would never have happened if using case hardened steel.
Two other options - one better than the other:
Lock is made by TUMI - get an 800 number or website and file a complaint
- if TUMI is worth any measure of business they should replace the lock FREE.
Not so good next time in an airport bring the matter up with a TSA official
- the least they could do is drop a letter (note) in your baggage sorry the
lock was not up to standards and we really did need to check your bag Sorry !

Or don't bother locking your bags. If TSA wants to inspect, it's going to inspect and it's going to cut the lock if it's in a hurry. If some thief wants to steal the contents, he's just gonna cut the lock anyway.

Total waste of $.

I travel frequently with a tool bag. I use TSA locks on it to keep baggage handlers out. I have had it inspected and not tag as such. I can tell because one of my locks go missing. It's happened three times, two of them flying LAX-MSP.

My guess your locked got jammed and they yanked in it damaging it,

Looks like it was wedged in between the edge of a conveyor belt and the edge, so it got beat up and bent as the lock was was pulled through with the luggage.

Unfortunately they make those luggage locks pretty cheaply.

Thread Alert
 

As the topic of this discussion has nothing to do with Delta Air Lines or the SkyMiles frequent flier loyalty program, the new home for it is now the Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues forum.

Regards,

Canarsie
Co-Moderator, Delta Air Lines | SkyMiles forum

May I kindly, and respectfully suggest to the mods, that, this IS a Delta issue, as the bag was checked on a Delta flight, and was in Delta's possesion, and that just possibly, because the words "TSA lock" were in the title, that it may have been misinterpreted to be an issue with the TSA?!?

I'll go along with rylan on this one, that it was likely damaged while on a conveyor of some sort - again, not likely while being handled or inspected by the TSA.

:)

The number of alerts — yes, plural — which we received from fellow FlyerTalk members pertaining to this discussion suggest otherwise.

Besides, discussion in the Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues forum is not solely dedicated to the Transportation Security Administration.

Regards,

Canarsie
Co-Moderator, Delta Air Lines | SkyMiles forum

local Tumi store replaced the lock, no questions asked

and speaking of "lock" ... mods can close this if they deem appropriate