I have more valuable stuff that I must have with me than I can possibly carry on or ship ahead. A $5000.00 video beamer, valuable text books, cords galore (beamer to computer, power cables, camera cords, charging cords, etc.), a couple of folios of CD's including an anatomy set wort $1,000.00,oodles of paper files ... though less and less as I digitize.

I have one foam lined suitcase for electronics, the other "regular" for clothes and extras cords.

No lock will prevent theft. If the TSA can snip them in a second, so can any thief. It is easy with a good blade to slice open any soft sided luggage, and with a small pry bar to open any clam shell. So it is all always at risk.

I simply use cable ties to be sure the zippers are not pulled open by accident. If they are cut, I will know. If they are cut and replaced by the TSA, I will know because they use a different color.

I have never had a theft in many hundreds of thousands of miles of travel.

I expect one day I will.

That's why I carry insurance for theft, loss, breakage or any risk at all. My son did have a leather jacket stolen from him in an airport and his CD player was in the pocket. Full replacement value given. Another time he spilled on one of my notebook computers. Full cost of repairs covered. No questions, no rise in rates.

Insure your stuff and don't worry.

Best wishes,

Teacher49

TSA at LAS and DFW will allow you to check locked bags. Just tell them that they are locked when you hand them off. They sometimes hold your boarding pass while you wait. If the bag needs to be unlocked, you give them the key, and they re-lock the bag when they're done.

Where would you direct the complaint and what do you expect to get? Usually, governmental agencies say "Too bad, so sad!"