TSA Approved Locks
 

I tried using a Prestolock SearchAlert lock on my luggage this weekend, with poor results. This lock is listed on the TSA website as being approved by them and that their staff have keys for them. Checked in the bag at BDL, where checked bag screening is doine in the lobby. I stood around the screening area and when the TSA employee got my bag he started complaining that someone put a lock on the bag. I walked over and told him it was my bag and that it had a TSA approved lock on it. He looked at it and said "Oh, that's what they look like" and then told me that only a supervisor has the key and that it's in an office at the other end of the terminal. I gave him the combination and he went through the bag and put the lock back on again. I made a connection through DFW and when I arrived in SMF the bag came up with the lock missing and the two zipper pulls through which the lock went had been cut. I have no idea why this bag was subjected to additional screening either at BDL or DFW, but I do know that I will never use one of these locks again. What an idiotic system where they have one key and it's locked in an office.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I've been considering buying one of those. Now I'll just stick with plastic wire tie.

I dont really see what this has to do with miles or points, so I'm going to move it over to Travel Securtity.

Regards,

Flipside

its automated
 

The baggage screening machines are automated. When the computer doesnt like an image it alarms and the bag has to be searched. There are several things that may cause it to alarm. Send a complaint to the airport TSA offices that you went through.

I've given up on so-called TSA locks
 

I've bought several and had them cut off. NO MORE! I don't care who promises what. I now carry on as much as I can and have absolutely nothing of value in my (seldom) checked bag. This is a complete change of habit pattern for me as I used to check a bag on nearly every flight. I'm tired of this game. Tired of wasting money. Just tired!

tsa locks
 

The same has happened to me at the Norfolk Airport, but the problem was the USairways counter help who didn't know about the lock. They went back and the TSA said send the bags through.

Norfolk is one of the cities that does 100% inspection since there is no xray equipment. One time after TSA inspected the bags, the combination didn't work and it was impossible to go through 9999 combinations to get it open, so i just broke the lock open.m $10 bucks gone.

Last week my wife had her bags opened with the TSA locks on them and they took her makeup brushes, Now I have to file a claim.

There just is no real solution, but I still recommend the TSA locks in cities that have Xray as it eliminates the possiblilty of baggage handlers stealing from you.

We just went to Hawaii and back with no problems of them cutting our locks. We lent them to my in-laws to go to Vegas and they didn't have a problem with them either. If you order locks through magellans.com and the TSA cuts your locks, then they will replace them free of charge.

BDL didn't have x-ray inspection so our bag had to be visually checked. Whoever cut open the lock did so by cutting both sliders on my Tumi bag, so the damage is much greater than just a missing lock. They didn't even put the lock back in the bag, so obviously they thought some idiot just put a plain old combination lock on the bag. I called TSA and they said they would pay for the repairs, but it's a hassle.

co-workers of mine experienced the same thing. Someone's making money off of this.

If i ever absolutely have to check anything, i'll get those plastic ties, 100 for a few bucks at home depot or lowes.

I have used these approved locks since they were first introduced without a problem. The issue that occurred had to have happened at your departing airport, not at your destination.

I have checked my luggage at LGA, JFK, EWR, LAS, LAX, FLL, DTW, ASE and PBI and used my locks without a problem. I will continue to use them, and will file a complaint if they are cut off. There is absolutely no excuse at this point in time for a approved lock to be cut except for laziness or total ignorance by a TSA employee. Again I state that we all should file official complaints if this occurs.

BDL specific problem?
 

I was out of BDL ten days ago, and was told when checking in at US Air that _no_ locks were permitted...TSA approved or not. This by US Air gate agent, and repeated by TSA type after schlepping the bag over to the scanner area.

Second time out of BDL with my wife last week...no locks...three bags out of four searched (according to the info slips inserted)....all three left with zippers _not_ reclosed.

I could understand some degree of inconsistency as part of a security program, but this is just sloppy workmanship and laziness.

TSA Approved Locks
 

Hi all, I sell security seals on ebay and I was aware that the TSA Locks were approved in USA/Uk, but was not aware of the problems some have experianced. On eba I have a product comparison my product and the other products available. But more importantly I have placed a free security tip.
I would like to submit a security tip here for all person/s reading this posting.

If you were to use ouseals we suggest the folowing:

1) Places the seals on zippers.
2) snap off the break away tab that has the same serial number as the seal.
3) take a photo with time and date.

All this will take no more than a minute but the evidance you have is priceless.

With new mobile phones of today you don't even need a camera, as they have one inbuilt and you can if you choose to email the photo back to our home or office instantly.
Finally I would like to say that you can do as the free tip suggests even if you use th cheaper seals or TSA locks.

At least in Norfolk you can have your bag inspected in your presence by TSA before it is sent into the baggage system. Don't know if this is limited to the airlines on the 'far' side of the terminal (the former arrivals/baggage area, where United, Northwest and Southwest are now located), but the drill there is check in, the ticket agent will attach the appropriate destination bag tags, you then lug your bags over to the TSA screening stations next to the checkin desk, and either leave them and go, or wait till they open/swab/etc. the bag and attach the TSA-blessed hologram sticker, and tell them to re-lock them. Once TSA is done, they'll put the bags on the conveyer belt behind the ticket counter.

You may on occasion get nasty looks from the TSA inspectors, but be sure and stand your ground (politely, of course) that you want to be there while they inspect them, and CONFIRM that they've put the locks on AND spun the dials. I never leave the area until I've verified with my own eyes that the bags are locked, have been placed on the conveyer, and have travelled out of sight.

Again, I don't know if this is limited to the UA/NW/WN side of the building, but I thought I remember seeing the bag screening stations on the other side of the building too, where US/DL/AA/etc. are.

Its a very rare airport indeed in the USA where they will inspect luggage in front of you

They also do not even have cable ties to relock your luggage after they cut off TSA approved locks

Its time everone bombarded TSA with E Mails , phone calls and claims over the cutting off of locks and the stealing thats going on

I am still waiting for TSA to even cough up the money on a claim they approved on 20th July and that was due to theft from my cases in February out of Hobby Airport Houston

I am totally sick of TSA attitudes and their failure to address very real security concerns that are being created solely by their luggage inspections and failure to relock as was highlighted by the Australian now in jail in Bali for drugs that were slipped into her unlocked case

PVD still has the baggage/X Ray machines in the lobby. After you check-in at the counter and check your bags and they are tagged, YOU must carry your bags to the X Ray machines. Then you must wait until they clear your bag(s). I have used locks, and the few times that they had to open my bags, I was there to open them.

I know this set up is very rare. In no other airport that I've been to is this done.