Just remember that if you carry replacement zip ties in your luggage for your return trip, don't include the color you're putting on your bag lest they just replace it with one they find inside the bag. You can find bags of zip ties with 4 or 5 different colors pretty easily.

Well... that was kind of my point!

This bag has built in tsa (combination) locks that I use. I use colored zip ties on my other bags but cannot on this particular bag.

I wonder how many baggage handlers have the keys AND 'tsa was here' cards.

Keys are not needed. Simple picks will work to open a TSA Approved Lock.

If the TSA baggage screener has a method to alert an accomplice of good pickens they could work together to target which bags to hit.

I am very aware that TSA locks provide little protection. I have plenty of experience getting stuff stolen to prove it.

However anything that slows theives down is a good thing IMO.

Which TSA locks are the least common? I know the Walmart TSA locks I buy are #7. What number is used least - so less thieves have the key? (I know they can still get in but the longer it takes the better)

I bought some of those TSA locks when they first came out. They had an indicator that was supposed to change if the TSA key had been used. I know luggage locks in general are flimsy and easily cut off, or someone can just use that pen in the zipper trick. I bought them mostly because of that indicator, so I would know if the bag had been searched by TSA. Well the first trip I used one of the locks, on arrival the lock was intact and locked, TSA love note inside bag, but indicator that's supposed to show the TSA lock had been used had NOT changed. 2nd trip with the TSA lock the lock was cut off with bolt cutters and placed inside bag, no TSA love note. I feel this is what would've happened to OP's TSA lock had he not been standing there witnessing the bag inspection. I mostly do carry on only now, but in the future if I check a bag I will do the colored zip tie thing someone else mentioned. I never put anything valuable in checked baggage, but I still hate that they can rifle through a person's belongings without the owner's presence. Any bag that needs to be opened should be done in front of the owner.

I use them on my carry-on luggage (anything that will be gate checked). It's amusing when I get a bag check. :D

TSA locks are not safer than any other locks.

The idea behind them was to allow you to have some locks on your bag as a mild deterrent (move on to an unlocked bag) because, as you remember, at one point we weren't allowed to lock the luggage at all or risk to have the locks destroyed. So basically TSA locks are ordinary locks that won't get destroyed (at least normally not) if the TSA wants to open them.

I found that when using normal TSA locks the frequency of inspection increased over normal no-TSA locks.

It just makes it easier for them. There were also cases when the bag was opened and rummaged through but no note left. So you want to find a solution that might somehow inhibit them and indicate that it was opened so that you can check right away when you get back the bag, and file a claim if stuff is missing. A TSA lock with SEARCH ALERT feature will help as an indicator. Mine are Brookstone brand and have always indicated they'd been opened. The member whose lock didn't throw the alert might just have had a broken lock.

The zip tie is a really good idea. Use colored ones. TSA can easily replace black ones. It is a really good idea to not keep same color extras for the return trip in the same bag. I actually hadn't thought of that. Thanks. You can open the zip tie with a SwissTec Utili-key which has always gone undetected. Nail clippers and nail scissors work also and are allowed in carry-on luggage. In despair I have even used a lighter to melt it off. Worked but did hurt when the molten plastic dripped on my clumsy fingers. :(

There are some other products that are useful:

http://www.tampertab.com/

It can be signed and opened without tools.

A somewhat cheaper and equally good solution are the tamper seal zip ties that have a serial number and can be opened also without instruments:
http://www.tamperseal.com/luggage-se...42a282309b921b

As far as specialized products go there is also a baggage strap by Pac-safe that has a TSA Alert indicator and that cannot be loosened once it is locked. Most other straps can be loosened when locked.

The last solution I can propose is to use neon duct tape all around the closure of your case. It does look like sh*t but has some good pros:
- Easy to use
- Not easy for them to replace if you choose a funky color
- Easy to see if someone's has tampered with it
- Slightly more pain for them to remove then locks and zip ties
- Easy to spot your bag on the belt

Here is a good thread on theft prevention in checked luggage:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...revention.html


The OP's experience is just indicative of the uselessness of TSA as a security measure and its organizational inefficiency. OTOH I wonder why he didn't simply open the locks for the TSO instead of waiting for a key unless that was done expressly to make their job harder and take one for the team, in which case I applaud his attitude. :)

Till