Do we lock the checked in luggage?

[dancemom3]

Since checked in luggage may now be opened to go through, what are you supposed do? I don't like the idea of leaving it unlocked, but if they pick mine to go through and it is locked, do they break it open? We have such a mish-mosh of luggage;some with little locks, and some that you just put the key in once it is closed. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[ducklite]

I'm going to burst your bubble here...that American Tourister, or name pretty much any other brand of luggage, the locks use a generic key for all of them. Yup! One key opens it all! Same with most little suitcase locks.

Unless you get a true set of locks (a locksmith is a good place to start) or combination locks, locking them is not different than leaving them unlocked, anyone with half a brain get use their key to open them.

Anne

 

[Pinnie]

Do not put valuables in your checked luggage and do NOT lock them. I travel a lot and have quite a collection of TSA "We went through your luggagge" cards here. I can usually tell when TSA has looked inside my duffle by the twist cord on the zipper pull.

I have NO idea what triggers my bags to be searched. I never put anything but my clothes and toiletries in my checked bags.

pinnie

 

[karebear1]

You can use those plastic cable ties on your luggage to secure them from the general public. They can be cut off with a pair of scissors by security if they need to check your luggage. I do this all the time- and have never had a problem with putting them on my luggage.

 

[don8life]

We are flying in to FLL and their website says ALL checked luggage will now be searched.
So I wouldn't lock it.

 

[CarolA]

You can buy TSA approved locks. What good they would do I don't know. (Let's get real if the TSA has a way to open them without you being there it can't be that hard to figure out!)

None TSA locks may be removed for the search and that could include tearing open the zipper if you have the "locksmith" lock on there.

I travel ALL the time and have never locked my luggage. I think a lock just signals a thief that you have something worth taking.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

As has already been mentioned, the TSA will cut off locks if they need to search your bag, so locking it is only a hassle to them.

As far as "all bags are screened", yes, this is true, but the screening varies by airport, and sometimes even within the same airport. (and here the government told us that the TSA was being created to standardize airline screening)

Some airports will screen your bags using what is known as an ETD (Explosives Trace Detection) swab before you're even allowed to go to the check in counter. Other airports will run the ETD swab out of sight of the passengers. Some airports will put bags through a large x-ray machine in front of the passengers, others will do it out of sight.

As far as having the bag opened and searched, that happens routinely, sometimes just randomly, sometimes every 50th bag is opened, etc. Your bag is also a lot more likely to be searched if it triggers the ETD, or if they notice anything suspicious on the x-ray. Apparently, the contents of some shampoo bottles can appear similar to explosive matter on some xray machines, which is why a seemingly innocent bag may be more likely to be searched.

The "Travel Safety/Security" section of the Flyertalk.com message boards has a lot more information about baggage screening, if you're still interested.

 

[Pinnie]

Originally posted by SyracuseWolvrine
Apparently, the contents of some shampoo bottles can appear similar to explosive matter on some xray machines, which is why a seemingly innocent bag may be more likely to be searched.

Thanks, Eric, I never thought of my shampoo bottle!!!! Maybe that is what is triggering my bag!

Oh and BTW, GO GREEN!!!!!!

pinnie

 

[maraakl]

don8life
The banners says "screened" not "searched". There is a big difference between the two. Just a FYI.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

If you use the zipties, TSA will put new ones on for you if they cut yours off to search the bag.

I worry less about someone stealing something out of my bag than my bag coming unzipped and spilling the contents out (because we know how gently they are handled). At least with the zipties you know your luggage will stay closed.

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by Letsbgoofy
If you use the zipties, TSA will put new ones on for you if they cut yours off to search the bag.

I worry less about someone stealing something out of my bag than my bag coming unzipped and spilling the contents out (because we know how gently they are handled). At least with the zipties you know your luggage will stay closed.

That's the same thing we're worried about. We started using zipties long before the rules came out saying you couldn't lock baggage.

Originally posted by ducklite
I'm going to burst your bubble here...that American Tourister, or name pretty much any other brand of luggage, the locks use a generic key for all of them. Yup! One key opens it all! Same with most little suitcase locks.

I went to a conference in Atlanta a few months before the Summer Olympics were held there. Quite a few people that I know had Olympic souveniers stolen from their locked checked bags - and the bags were still locked when they picked them up from baggage claim. So, it's not that hard to unlock those locks. Besides, I have seen a number of them open just from being hit exactly right when they come off the baggage carrousel.

 

[dancemom3]

Thank-you all for your replies!
It looks like I'll be getting some of those zipties for the bags that use the little locks. As for the others, I'm going to leave them unlocked and hope that they don't pop open if dropped.

 

[Snoozan]

We use the colored "belts" that wrap around the luggage - Mine are Bright Green(Go DIS!)so it's easy to spot my luggage on the carousel. These belts can be bought in the luggage dept. at Target or Walmart and can be in different colors. They are easily removed and replaced if the bags need to be searched.

 

[Jeanny]

Originally posted by Snoozan
We use the colored "belts" that wrap around the luggage - Mine are Bright Green(Go DIS!)so it's easy to spot my luggage on the carousel. These belts can be bought in the luggage dept. at Target or Walmart and can be in different colors. They are easily removed and replaced if the bags need to be searched.

IF you have an agent who is considerate enough to put the "belt" back on. I just go with the cable ties and I bring enough for the trip back too. I have bright green luggage tags and bright green ribbon tied to the handles so I can spot my luggage.

On another note, there was something on the news this morning about some TSA agents caught on tape stealing from luggage... nothing will stop them if they want to steal something. Just don't tempt them by putting expensive things in your checked luggage.

 

[disneyfreakk]

also, i put my underthings in a big zip lock baggie so the TSA employees arent running around with my bras on their heads! no, really... they usually wont open the baggie, they just kinda " feel " for stuff that shouldnt be there! just a FYI

 

[tmli]

I understand why you all say not to put anything valuable in my bag, which is very easy to do on the way there. But what about the way home...all of our souvenirs etc. Definitely too much for carry on, considering we will already been carrying our pin collection with us.

 

[Jeanny]

Originally posted by disneyfreakk
also, i put my underthings in a big zip lock baggie so the TSA employees arent running around with my bras on their heads! no, really... they usually wont open the baggie, they just kinda " feel " for stuff that shouldnt be there! just a FYI

WOOOOO HOOOO everyone grab disneyfreakk's baggies!!!

I also did the 2 gallon zip lock thing when we went our on cruise... they hold a lot, I squish all the air out of them and can fit a lot in my luggage. My daughter thought I was crazy, but it works for me!

 

[msr709]

Originally posted by Jeanny
WOOOOO HOOOO everyone grab disneyfreakk's baggies!!!

I also did the 2 gallon zip lock thing when we went our on cruise... they hold a lot, I squish all the air out of them and can fit a lot in my luggage. My daughter thought I was crazy, but it works for me!

I went one step further, I got those PackMate bags that you can fit a lot of clothes in and take the air out, is this going to be problem when they check our bags? Also I got those "TSA approved locks" I figured the same thing a previous poster did that if the TSA can open them than others can as well but I don't put anything but clothes, shoes and toiletries. On the return I always bring an extra Tote bag to put my souvenirs in and carry them on with me (I usually buy T-shirts and stuff like that, any jewelry ALWAYS goes in my purse).

 

[DisFam95]

So how do you remove the zip-tie if you can't carry any cutting device with you?? Do you have to wait until you get the hotel and borrow scissors from bell service or can you "rip" them off w/ a key or something??

 

[Jeanny]

Originally posted by DisFam95
So how do you remove the zip-tie if you can't carry any cutting device with you?? Do you have to wait until you get the hotel and borrow scissors from bell service or can you "rip" them off w/ a key or something??

I carry a small nail clipper, yes, they are allowed now. I had to leave my leatherman set at home... didn't want to take the chance of losing that at security, but I did take my small nail clipper with us. Just don't push the tie too tight, leave enough room to get the clipper in there.