Can I Use TSA Locks Flying Into England?

[GreatDaneMom]

Hello everyone! I apologize if this post sounds really ignorant and naive to many of you but I've only flown within the USA before and I'm hoping you can help me.

We use TSA locks when we fly around here in the US but I didn't know if the airport security people in England would also have the special keys to unlock them. Is it okay for us to use the TSA locks flying into England or is this just a USA thing?

Thanks for any help (and patience!!)

Cheryl

 

[Disney D]

yes, you need them if you're flying to England

 

[Claire L]

Yes as the cases are more likely to be opened upon leaving the US than entering the UK.

Claire

 

[GreatDaneMom]

Thanks for the answers! I guess I really wasn't thinking. Security is not likely to search my bags in England when I arrive because they already searched them in the US when I departed. I guess this whole business just has me a little rattled!!

Cheryl

 

[Claire L]

Thanks for the answers! I guess I really wasn't thinking. Security is not likely to search my bags in England when I arrive because they already searched them in the US when I departed. I guess this whole business just has me a little rattled!!

Cheryl

Not a problem I know what you mean though it does get confusing what to do where and when!

Claire

 

[patdavies]

Thanks for the answers! I guess I really wasn't thinking. Security is not likely to search my bags in England when I arrive because they already searched them in the US when I departed. I guess this whole business just has me a little rattled!!

Cheryl

The only people to open your bags on arrival will be HM Customs and you will be present in the customs hall - so the locks don't matter.

 

[kkymmy]

I hope for your own sake though that you don't get hauled over by customs...I was a single traveller, backpack style on a flight from Dubai to Heathrow. Obviously I stood out like a sore thumb amongst businessmen and women, and middle eastern travellers. I got stopped, my rucksack was emptied in plain view of everyone and all of my ziplocks (everything was split into ziplocks for ease during an african expedition) went through the xray. My bag was swabbed for traces of drugs, but all they got was ugandan dirt!!!

Then they did my hand luggage in a similar way. I guess if they thought I was a security threat they did what was necessary, but the fact that 5 weeks worth of my life was in that bag, I felt a bit upset that they didn't offer me any privacy. I am glad however they didn't feel it necessary to search my person....not because I was carrying anything, but because I'd just spent 20 hours travelling (uganda-kenya-dubai-heathrow) alone, at the age of 17....I was a bit emotional to say the least.

 

[GreatDaneMom]

kkymmy, that's terrible that you had to go through that at 17. As a mother who's raised 6 relatively modest teens I know they would have been pretty uncomfortable in that situation. I guess even me at the ripe old age of 50 would be a little red in the face watching someone go through EVERY item in my bags in front of others. Thank you for tolerating the search in the name of safety for all of us!

Cheryl