Flying with Virgin did you have to leave your cases unlocked?

[edie w]

On the Virgin check in desk at Downtown Disney there was a small notice saying that checked luggage MUST be left unlocked.

Go figure!

My BIL's case came back with an "inspected" sticker, but nothing was amiss.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

You MUST lock all cases. This is from the horses mouth (Virgin Atlantic) in a letter to me received this morning in response to a letter I sent them.

In my letter I voiced my disatisfaction and concern that, having asked at Check-in whether we should use the cable ties we'd brought or use padlocks, we were told to use padlocks since they'd not heard of any problems with people locking their luggage.

Suffice to say ours was searched, padlocks ripped off, our possessions removed and damage caused (not by VA but by the TSA in the US).

I don't want to enter into one of the political debates which seem to be happening on the boards at the moment, I'm just replicating what Virgin Atlantic told me today.

Suitcases MUST BE LOCKED, otherwise travel insurance is nil and void should anything be missing/damaged because suitable precautions have not been taken. This was confirmed by my travel insurers.

Virgin Atlantic have agreed to pay the £35 excess I would have to pay my insurers.

However, my point to VA was not about the damage, we've written it off down to tough luck and bad experience. My point was that we had taken all precautions to do the right thing by asking the relevant people (ie VA) and no-one still seems to have the right info (ie DTD check-in saying luggage must remain unlocked!).

The TSA have had a sharp email from me about their involvement in the whole thing and, whilst I thoroughly approve of them searching luggage, people's possessions should receive more care.

Seems to be the unlucky ones like my family are in a no-win situation.

 

[SEVANS2208]

Well I'm very confused!!!

When we came back from Orlando (admittedly a couple of months ago now) there were signs up at the check in saying leave your cases unlocked. We'd already locked ours & couldn't be bothered to unlock them but one was "broken into" by US security after we'd put them on the conveyor belt. Fortunately nothing was damaged apart from the padlock which is easily replaceable - our fault really for not leaving them unlocked I guess!

We were also told at the airport that because the airlines were saying to leave cases unlocked you WERE covered on your insurance.

Virgin Atlantic have obviously changed their minds since then?!?!

 

[WDWfan uk]

Yes - we are in a catch 22 situation aren't we?

It really is a difficult situation. As long as I can remember we have always been advised over here to have our luggage secure and keep it with us at all times so that nothing can be added to it without our knowledge.

I am happy to comply with any and all security recommendations that they want - but we are getting totally conflicting advice when it comes to flying to USA.

I've spent some time surfing to see if I could find some luggage straps that had some sort of lock on them but although they say "locking" they can in fact be pulled apart by anyone. ( I'd sooner have a luggage strap cut apart than the cases - our cases have zips that we padlock together).

As Annie says, I was clearly told by Virgin that we must lock our cases in spite of the fact that they may well be forced open.

 

[Sian]

I have just returned and my hard case with combination lock didn't recognise the combination when I got to Orlando. It didn't occur to me that this might be due to airport security forcing it open until we got home and found that 3 of our cases had been examined (none of these were locked). The hard case still works but to open it I have to force the lock with a hammer (or wooden coathanger in Orlando), or leave the main catch unfastened (not just unlocked). £70 suitcase is now pretty useless. I can see this being a widespread problem as even if you leave the combination set to your code it would be very easy for the little wheels to turn during the journey meaning the catch had to be broken for security to open the case. It seems that once forced, the combination will not work again and the catch automatically locks.
I will not buy this type of case again.

 

[steve_rob]

Coming back from Orlando last month with Delta, my other half had her luggage done up with cable ties. When we got it back at Gatwick, one had been cut, case opened and searched, and then resealed with one of their cable ties. The other case was unscathed.

I on the other hand had a hard case with combination lock. As I handed it over, I told the TSA representative that the combination was currently in the "open" position, but asked (nicely!) that whether they searched it or not, could they change it before putting it on the plane.

When I got it off the carousel at the other end, the combination had been changed to a completely different number, so they must have locked it for me (don't know whether asking made the difference), so at least I had the comfort of knowing that my case had been secured for the journey home.

BTW, upon opening it I found the piece of paper inside to say it had been searched, so that was two out of our three bags searched.