These days I normally use twisties on my luggage for obvious reasons. However, during a recent trip (I took 3 in a row, so I am not sure which), my Swiss army knife and nail scissors, kept together with some a hair curler and only packed in checked luggage, disappeared without one of those federal forms inserted. Since we are a movie company, most of our technical bags are routinely opened and we get these forms. In fact, when the big latches on one aluminium case did not open easily, the baggage people actually called the gate to speak to us to figure out how to open them.

I would like to use those "approved" locks on a trip overseas, just to have a bit more accountability if there are items missing. (Maybe I am naive.) I know US baggage checkers have the lock opener, what about those overseas? How often are they cut off? (Brookstone replaces them if they are.) I also like the idea of using them in hotel rooms to make it a bit harder to peer into, although I could take out an old fashioned lock for that purpose.

Any wisdom>