Luggage Locks..best TSA approved....?
 

My TSA approved luggage locks were recently cut at DFW with the loss of some valuable items. I'm not going to dwell on that.
So, who makes the best TSA approved luggage locks?

3M.................use duct tape to tape the bag. very seldom is there enough TSA initive to cut the mess.

I have TSA locks from several companies, and they're all the same as far as I can tell.

This is true!

I have an old beat up golf bag that has duct tape all over it. :eek: When I check it in the TSA and airline people roll their eyes and never give it a second look. But inside it has some fairly new clubs, cash, shoes, and golf balls. Nothing has ever been stolen from it. ^

My friends with the nice golf bag have always had something stolen from their bag. :td:

Golf bags are all manually inspected, as their dimensions do not allow for them to be rolled on the belt into the CTX (bomb-sniffing) machine.

As for the TSA locks, don't bother. Yes, the TSAers are supposed to have a key, but they find it easier to simply cut the lock.

Just keep your valuables with you in your carry-ons.

And if you travel to Europe and a lot inside europe there is no point. Keys for TSA locks are virtually non-existent. There was an uncomfirmed rumor I heard that TSA keys and that should be rolled out in europe summer last year (heard the rumor in 2005) but that's the only time I heard about it.

TSA locks exist here and sell very well. Dunno why.

Do not check baggage. Ever. If you can't carry it on, then ship it ahead. FedEx and UPS are amazing.

TSA locks improve the bottom line of the losk manufacturers. Basically they are useless for protection and 80+% of the TSA "officers" cut rather than use TSA master keys. Another DHS con on the American public.

MisterNice

I've been using them since they came out, and I've never had one cut. I still prefer to lock my bags for other reasons.

No baggage locks (TSA or otherwise) provide real security against theft of contents, unless you have armored baggage or something like that.

Some have an indicator that shows if the TSA or someone else used a TSA key to open and relock it, so that you can tell if it has been opened the moment you pick it up from the carousel. (Obviously, if the locks are missing, you know that someone has opened the baggage.)

Distinctively colored zip ties may provide a similar "indicator" function.

I had a camera stolen(Nikon 8700), some clothing, prayer wheel (I had just picked up in Tibet), antique Chairman Mao clock...my medicine kit was open and some ambient is missing....this wasn't TSA..this was someone stealing....
Hence, my question about athe best lock.....

A lock only serves to keep the honest honest, like car alarms. If they want it, they'll get it (e.g., your whole bag will go missing/lost, not just some select items).

Get a hard-sided bag(shop salvation army) and wrap it with about 15 rounds of tape, both east west, and north south.

This has been my experience as well - numerous times. Bags were relocked with the TSA paper notification left inside.

all cut
 

All my TSA locks historically were cut. This is sooo a known problem that the store where I bought them kept GIVING me new ones.

Now, I just put a regular lock on there, but don't put anything valuable in the cases, bags. I know, the clothes do add up, but the only thing to do is note it, and file the claim with TSA they do pay out. So does amex, and the airline. PIA for sure, but again, whadwe gonna do?