Quick question:

I'm new to travel forums and I'm thinking about purchasing a few Safe Skies luggage locks and wanted to get everyone's opinion on them. I like them for a couple of reasons:

1. They say that TSA won't cut them off (I've had that happen to me a few times) and if TSA does cut them, Safe Skies will replace them for free.

2. They have a bunch of fun colors and designs that would make it easier to find my bags at baggage claim.

Thoughts? They also seem to have a bunch of followers on Facebook which makes me think a lot of people like them: https://www.facebook.com/Safe.Skies....56617574393728

Welcome to FT - since your question is not related to Virgin Atlantic specifically, I'll move this over to the Travel Products forum.

Jenbel
Co-moderator, Virgin Flying Club

I use TSA-compatible locks (not Safe Skies) to have a modicum of additional security (more so that the bags' zippers don't open by themselves - against theft they are of dubious help).

Could use zip ties to the same effect, but I prefer something reusable.

As for making it easier to identify your bags, I think they are of no value here: you need something bigger; their conspicuousness is even lower than the additional security they provide.

Summing up: If you like them, go for them, but don't expect too much

The first few years after the TSA approved locks were introduced, my experience was that they just cut them off anyway. Over the last few years, I've been seeing the 'we inspected your bag' piece of paper in the bag with the lock intact, so things have improved. I haven't had a lock removed in a while.

I'd go for a coloured baggage strap than a lock - easier to see on the baggage belt and especially after a long flight.

Mind once that didn't stop someone trying to pick my bag up 'but it has the same strap as mine' she wailed until I pointed out my name on the tag!

I've used them on some TATL flights...not on domestic flights. I've lost about half of them...some gone altogether, some unlocked but hanging from the zipper handle (sometimes a note inside, sometimes not) and some locked where I left them. I never plan that I will have the lock at my destination...if I do, I win...it's a crapshoot. I take an extra lock for use when I leave the bag at my hotel's bellman or if I leave something in the suitcase in my room.

We always use straps. Add zip ties, if TSA wants to they can cut them.

Rarely check but when I do, I use them or the wire ties that come with trash bags mainly to keep it from accidentally unzipping. For locks I use the combination ones so I don't have to worry about losing anything but my mind. If that goes, I don't think I'll be sweating my luggage.

We always use locks & straps. It's not going to stop a determined thief but the name of the game is making your bag less attractive than the other guy's.

I also find the straps help at claim time--no matter what position the bag is in I can grab the strap to lift it. Sometimes it's not easy to grab the handle as it's going around the belt.

The important thing is to get the TSA locks that have a safety alert. That is a red collar or dot that shows up on the lock when it has been opened with the TSA key. This way you know they have been in there as soon as you pick up the bag.

This alone is an important feature in preventing theft by TSA. Ordinary TSA locks without the safety alert only facilitate theft by TSA. They open your bag with their keys in the name of security, go through them and then take whatever they like. Obviously, they will not place a TSA ticket in your bag when it has been thusly pilfered.

I recommend colorful zip ties. Don't use black. They have black spares with which they will replace your zip ties. Use a gaudy neon color. They will most likely not have the color on hand. The zip tie acts like a seal that must be broken.

You can also put tape around the entire length of the zipper. That makes it too much hassle for quick thieves and is very obvious if it's missing.

Till

I've always wondered about this topic also. I'm going to Cabo (Mexico) soon and was wondering if I should just use the zip ties like you suggested. Just so I understand correctly, 1) if TSA breaks my zip tie they will be doing it for official purposes thus, they'll put whatever new zip tie they have and place a notification inside. but 2) if, however, a thief cuts off my zip tie, there will be no notification inside. And as such, I'd report to the baggage office.

Is that how it works? I'm just a bit nervous about going to Mexico (I have to check b/c I've got big stuff to carry this time) Thank you.

tfar ^your comments reflect my so far very limited - but always consistently bad - experience with the TSA. Each time I flew TATL out of the same US airport. I used TSA locks on my bags. Results as follows:-
Trip #1 - Bag #1
TSA lock replaced on the bag in the correct place. But the combination had been changed. I had to cut off the lock to open my bag.
Trip #1 - Bag #2
TSA lock removed from the main compartment and replaced (with wrong combination now) on the side pocket zipper leaving the bag unprotected. This lock had to be cut off too.
Trip #1 - Bag #3
I didn't put any lock on this bag. Bag of a more casual duffle bag type. Contents were not touched and all arrived safely.
Bags #1 and Bag #2 were delayed 24 hours. When they arrived, contents had been mixed between the 2 bags and all the best stuff stolen.

Trip #2 - Bag #1
TSA lock replaced on the same part of the bag. Lock had to be cut off again, as the TSA had changed the combination.
Trip # 2 - Bag # 2
TSA lock completely missing.
Nothing stolen this time. Bags arrived on time.

Trip #3 - Bag #1
TSA lock replaced on same part of the bag, but combination changed to lock had to be cut off again.
Trip #3 - Bag #2
TSA lock replaced on same part of the bag, but combination changed to lock had to be cut off again.
Trip # 3 - Bag #3
No lock placed on this bag which was a casual duffle bag type. Luggage arrived on time and apparently nothing stolen.
So far almost 100% replacement needed of all TSA locks ! And the luggage that had no lock at all (especially not a TSA lock) seemed never to have been disturbed or stolen from in every case.

Conclusion? TSA locks? Don't bother. You are better with no lock at all.

Every TSA-approved lock I have ever had has been missing when I received my luggage (including once when it was attached to the zipper pull, but I hadn't actually locked the bag). Well over half the time, there was no notification paper inside.

I've only had a zip-tie removed once. I actually had a plastic folder on the top inside the bag with a copy of my flight itinerary plus a note to TSA asking for the zip-tie to be replaced if the bag was opened, along with a spare zip tie. The zip-tie was gone and not replaced. (Of course, a TSA apologist will point out that a baggage handler could have removed the zip-tie, but TSOs have xray 'vision', so they generally have a pretty good idea why they're opening a bag and what they hope to find/steal).

Personally, I think some TSOs do assume that a locked bag means something worth stealing. In my case, it's usually not something that will interest them, but it is something necessary for my travels (goretex shell, bike helmet and shoes, hiking boots, trekking poles, etc.)

Locking your luggage is an incentive for thieves who are looking for people who pack valuables in checked luggage. Just makes it easier for the thieves to target more efficiently.

Does zippo with respect to TSA.

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9650; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.8+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/6.0.0.719 Mobile Safari/534.8+)

When I need to check, I use another brand, including one that Southwest sent us. I also have a solid carryon with the a combo TSA-friendly lock built into the zipper lock mechanism.

A real thief is getting in or stealing the entire bag, but any deterrent is good by me.

I used to use zip ties, but TSA stopped resealing bags with zip ties and I had a bag open and leaking onto the baggage conveyer. (When I wrote TSA, they told me the 2 cent zip ties were cut as a budget issue; I splurged on locks immediately).

I have had bags inspected and no cut locks, so properly used by TSA.

I also carry a few zip ties in all my bags, just in case I need to reseal or check a carryon I wasn't planning to check.

My advice is buy the locks you like. They'll last years, and if you need to check it is the best option.