Moving this to the Travel Products forum. Thanks!

From experience by the key ones NOT the tumbler number ones. These tend to jam and you cant open them at all.

I've owned these locks since they first came out and haven't lost any. I prefer the 3-number combination ones; hate messing with keys. None have ever jammed.

I use the SearchAlert TSA locks. They have an indicator on them that turns to red if the TSA unlocks them. This is nice when they "forget" to leave one of their love notes in the suitcase so I know to check to see if anything is missing.

http://www.tamperseal.com/searchaler...0ccb843b29d41c

I never lock my bags. Never have. My bags have been lost and returned and nothing lifted, despite it being packed with tripod, cablingm chargers for cameras etc. Haven't had an issue what so ever.

My last trip Gothenburg - Frankfurt - Toronto I just simply took gaffa tape around my hard sided bag. Mostly because it was FULL and I didn't want it to explode and spread it's contents. The tape is also a good indication if your bag has been tampered with.

I believe that within US you alwasy get your bags checked anyway.

I'm not sure the TSA system has rolled out across Europe so should you fly within with a locked bag, it will be cut. If you have a hardsided bag with builtin locks your bag will be broken in to, no matter what you would think is right or wrong, and you can claim zero money for it. TSA in any country have the right to look in to your bag once you have checked it. If you have locked it, they have the right to use whatever means necessary to open the bag.

The only time I lock a bag is a rollaboard, should I leave it unattended. But anyone could walk off with it anyway, so what is the point, really.

More then likely the lock got caught in the conveyor system. Your lucky the handles came loose before you bag tore. I stopped using the locks with cables instead of steel because I could see where they had been caught on something.

I use TSA locks all the time and in the US they have never gone missing. I have had the notice in my bag that the bag was searched but the lock was back in place.

The only issue I have had was coming back from Australia. In Europe and such they do not honor the TSA logo or locks. They will cut them off if they have to check your bag and will toss the lock. When I came back from Australia, I requested a hand check of my checked luggage, they hand checked it, I put my lock on the bag and they marked the bagged security checked and let it go. It arrived with lock in tact at LAX.

It may be a false sense of security, but I do like to use the locks.

I've used the TSA locks with success.

Traveling to certain portions of the world without locked bags is retarded. You don't want somebody talking things out or putting things in your bags.

Have gotten the SearchAlert TSA locks on eBay. I just buy 6 at a time and hand them out as "stocking stuffers" to my travelling friends. TSA has left me their love note of baggage inspection 20+ times, but the lock stays intact. Would absolutely recommend!

Most likely they just cut off the zipper toggles you had the lock running through. Easier to cut them off then the locks.

Distinctive colored zip ties should fulfill the function of showing whether someone (TSA or otherwise) has opened your checked baggage. If you choose to use TSA locks, get ones with the indicator that shows when a TSA key has been used to open them.

I have actually gotten my luggage back and the lock had grooves worn in it were it was dragged along a piece of steel. This happened on three different trips. So there is still a chance the lock got stuck in the conveyor system.

I second that
 

I have been using them for many years, and have never had them cut. I have had the ones with the solid shackle bent beyond use, and have had my luggage opened several times, but the lock is always there when I get the bag. First, I only use the combo locks - keys are too small to keep track of. Second, I prefer the locks with the cable shackle, like http://www.tamperseal.com/tsa-cable-lock-p-159.html but I really liked the locks that have a window that turned red to show when they were opened. It was resettable, but those all have the hard shackle, at least I have not found any. The most trips a lock has lasted for me was about 60. That's pretty darn good. Of course, there has been the new lock that got bent on the first trip, but that is rare. The cable lock has been going now for over 1.2 years and has not been broken.

I recently bought a 2 pack of TSA locks for $4.99 at a no-name discount store. They were made my Tourister I think.

I buy them from amazon for $$$?, well you can see below:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw...d+lock&x=0&y=0

My own experience has been positive for domestic travel; not so lucky for couple of times on international flights (locks cut).