TSA compliant padlocks?
 

My apologies if this has come up before, but have just had my first experience of using supposedly TSA compliant padlocks (I have tried "pacsafe" - http://www.pac-safe.com/product.aspx?pId=678). I am wondering if anyone has had similar experiences?

Two of our bags were padlocked (a large suitcase and a holdall full of ski boots, ski helmets and ski clothes) with PACSAFE TSA approaved padlocks.

Have just flown:
- LHR-DEN (BA)
- DEN-BUR (UA)
- SNA-DEN (UA)
- DEN-HDN (UA)
- HDN-ORD (AA)
- ORD-LHR (BA)

On the LHR-DEN (BA) sector, the large suitcase was "lost" (basically, for some reason or another, it never made the flight... but that is another story). When - 7 days later - it was delivered to us, the PACSAFE padlock was missing, the case now had nothing securing the zip, there was no "security" tag on the bag, there was no TSA/customs note in the case. The top 1/3rd of the case had obviously been rummaged through - the rest appeared untouched. Nothing was missing (but there was nothing of any obvious value - just clothes and shoes - in there in the first place).

At the end of the HDN-ORD-LHR sector (the bag was through checked by AA to the BA flight - so didn't see it inbetween those two sectors), the ski stuff holdall (which had the other PACSAFE padlock) came out with the zip tag ripped/puilled off. The "zip tag" is the bit through which padlock was. So basically the padlock was still hanging onto one end of the zip, but the holdall had been opened (and wasn't even closed back up properly... :mad: ). There was no note from the TSA in the bag, but there was a "BA Security Screened" label across part of the zipper. Haven't been through it to see if anything is missing yet - although it doesn't appear any smaller and, again, nothing of any "easy to sell" value was in there.

So in a short period of time (less than 3 weeks), I have lost one padlock and had one bag (or at least it's zip) broken. Those two bags/cases rummaged though and not properly resealed. Despite - as far as I can see - taking suitable procautions that were compliant with the TSA :(

Fortunately, as you will have gathered, I do not put anything remotely valuable in my case. But am unhappy that there appears to be no way of securing your belongings from "opportunists" taking a rummage through.

Also, I seem to remember, in the early days of the "no locking your case" ruling, I used to get a note from the TSA inside any bag that had be opened (to say that it was searched) AND the TSA did their best to resecure the luggage (i.e. retie a twist tie that I put on there or put some form of tamperproof tie on there). What has happened to this approach?

Any thoughts/advice
Boo
(far too often stupidly ideallistic about the world...)

I've been using TSA locks since they first became available, and remember a few occasions where my suitcase was searched, then re-locked with the nice "TSA was here" note inside. More recently, it seems to me that my suitcase has been rummaged through without any note being left, but I haven't actually lost any locks yet. The only advice I would have is not to check anything you absolutely can't afford to lose, but you already have that covered.

I've had two TSA-type locks disappear in LAS (or conceivably SFO but the bags were checked through) but it did not look like the bag had actually been opened (we strap them up quite a bit and the straps appeared untouched) and there was no inspection note.

I submitted a claim for the locks and it was paid--took like 6 months.

Oh, my word.

I've recently had my luggage lost/stolen from Air Transat. Our route was YYC-CUN CALGARY INTERNATIONAL -> CANCUN CHARTER TERNIMAL... Before even getting on the plane it started. They charged us $40. 00 because our tickets weren't "printed properly". Once we arrived, we discovered our luggage, and about 15 other peices of other's luggage (which included a woman's wedding dress as she were to get married), went to London via Monarch Airways. We were told off from reps at the hotel because we were "uncarefull because Air Transat never looses luggage", even though they have a horrible record of doing so...

Anyways, after the reps at Air Transat were ignorant and disrespectful for 3 days in helping (we were yelling in the lobby to watch out for Air Transat to whoever was checking in, this is the only reason why the buggars helped, to shut us up...), we got our luggage (which sat in the lobby for a day because it "wasn't Air Transat's fault"... A note attached said there was a possibility of destructive forces being in the bag and it read all of our rights for opening it, ladada ladada lasa... We opened the bag, to discover EVERYTHING was out of place, our clothes unfolded and in a big mess (they all needed ironing which would cost us a fortune due to the resort having to do it...), and we discovered multiple items missing-sandals, top-of-the-line sunscreen, and expensive perfume... Our friends on that flight also had their luggage "misplaced" along with about 1, 000 worth of perfume. We complained more to the reps, and went back to the protesting in the lobby before they aggreed for us to be able to fill out a form... HORRIBLE service on their part. HORRIBLE. Anyways, about 4 months after arrival and 3 letters to Air Transat, we recieved a sum of 200 USD for the late luggage and stolen property. Our friends still haven't heard back from Air Transat.

As a travel agent, I will never recomend Air Transat to anyone and avoid booking with them. I've experienced nothing but bad with them that they are past the point of getting better...

My advice to the origional poster is to examine any luggage that has been lost BEFORE opening, and take photos for proof of any forced entery. Also examine any expensive items being missing OR misplaced in luggage (moved inside case). And, once you have a bad experience with an airline, don't go back if possible...

Canada Flyer

I have used TSA compliant locks before and never had them come out in one piece. They have been cut everytime. I just stopped putting them on. I rarely check my luggage these days anyway.

I use TSA locks that have the little red/green indicators showing whether they have been opened.

My dad's suitcase was opened and there was a note and the lock showed red. One of mine was opened on an international flight and there was a note and a red indicator on the lock.