Locks on the suitcase??

[Kim W.]

I have posted before that I don't travel often. Our trip is coming up soon (12/17),
we are flying. I wonder if I should or should not put a lock on my suitcase?
I want to keep our belongings safe, but does security need to look inside?

Thanks again for all you help.
Kim W.

 

[DebbieB]

Just returned today - we had locks on our checked luggage and there was no problem. I think if they do a random check, they will ask you to unlock it and will inspect it in front of you.

 

[Pluto4President]

We haven't locked our suitcases in years.

 

[mikek]

a wise friend of mine onece told me-
"locks only keep the honest people out"

Sometimes they do keep things from opening accidnetly though.

That aside if you do use them, security has xray machines or if they need to get inside they will come find you to get the key.

 

[inkkognito]

We put locks on our suitcases for our Thanksgiving weekend trip and had no problems. I'm guessing that we would have been called to open them or that they would have been cut off if they had needed to be checked. We used to use cable ties rather than locks, but we can no longer do that because they must be cut off and we can no longer carry on nail clippers to do that!!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[skeezixspud]

... because dry ice is now forbidden on passenger aircraft. They have to inspect the contents to be sure there is no regular ice or dry ice inside before they will check the package.
I know you didn't ask about ice chests, but I thought I'd mention it for anyone reading this.

We check a rolling ice chest every year as one of our bags, so that we have a cool place to keep milk and drinks in our room. On the flight it functions as a suitcase, with some dry snacks packed in to prevent crushing. The agents have strapping tape at the counter; you would just need to let them look inside, and then they will tape up the icechest/package and send it through.

 

[baileybrad]

We always have put the small locks on the suitcases just to help with them not popping open. No illusions that it would stop a thief. Obviously, your question is more related to a hand check of a checked bag. I would expect that those are still quite rare even in these times of heightened security. I would put locks on the luggage just for the chance that they might help keep the contents in the cases.