Luggage - lock vs. unlock

[maxaroni]

We have TSA approved locks and we were told that TSA has master keys to open them, if the bags need to be searche. A friend told me she never locks her bags, anywhere they travel and she's never had a problem. I know of someone else who only "locks" with zip ties. When talking to USAir, they recommend NOT locking your luggage. I know that once our luggage, leaves our hands, we no longer have control and the luggage can be searched and not re-locked. However, I'm having trouble with the idea of not locking it at all. I'd feel safer knowing that as of when I had the luggage, it was locked.

Any thoughts?

 

[tmt martins]

We do the Zipties as I just want to know IF someone has been in my bag and it helps from accidental zipper opening.

The TSA locks are good but many baggage handlers have the Keys as well so you really don't know even if they come back locked.

Put them on to secure you zippers but don't get into the false sence that they stop the handlers from getting into your bag. They Icepick your zipper open then just use the locked zippers to force it closed again .The zipties break making this harder to do.

 

[Tara]

A few things to consider:
1. Even with "approved" locks, TSA might still cut your locks off. It's ridiculous, but it happens all the time.
2. The truth is that, if someone wants to get in your luggage, it's very easy to do so without even breaking the lock. VERY easy.
3. My dad always said that locking a bag was like saying "I have something worth stealing in here." I never quite bought into that, but who knows how some thieves think.

 

[Poohbear123]

I locked my one bag with ALL the lotions in on the way to Orlando. It was still locked when I retreived it at the Luggage area. On the way back home, I checked in 2 peices, none of which were locked, and all was fine. I flew Southwest which is great by the way.

 

[CarolA]

Most frequent flyers figure that if the TSA has the master key so does EVERYONE else in the baggage area so the locks don't keep anyone out of the luggage.

I have never locked luggage. My personal theory is that locks make thieves think "that luggage has something they want to protect, maybe I want it too" LOL!

So no matter what you do valuables such as jewerly and electronics need to be carried on. (Unless you are flying from London in which case I don't know what I would do...My companies policy is you take the train to Paris and fly home from there rather then check your laptop....)

 

[Donald is #1]

I have flown many times since 9/11 including a few trips to Europe and I never lock my bags anymore. Prior to 9/11, I was very paranoid about locking my bags. I would even buy additional locks so that I could lock up the pouches on the outside of my bags. When I first traveled after 9/11 (probably about Feb 02), there weren't any locks that you could use, so I didn't lock my bags. And guess what happened....Nothing. My bag came through fine. Since then I have never locked my luggage and I haven't had a problem.

I agree with the previous posters in that locking your luggage really won't stop anyone from stealing something if they want to. Besides, if someone wants to steal my shampoo or dirty clothes, oh, well. I can always buy more. I also never pack anything valuable in my checked bags. Though I will probably have a different opinion if I was flying to England and I had to check my camera gear.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You can get TSA locks which have an indicator which shows if they have been unlocked.

You are also free to lock your luggage with whatever locks you chose, however, if the TSA chooses your bag to inspect, they will be cut off.

I lock my bag simply to prevent from accidental opening. No lock will prevent a dedicated thief from opening luggage.

 

[dreamalittledream]

I use the zip ties and to open them up I put a pair of nail clippers in an outside pocket (or have carried it on in the past) a lighter will also work (from the person picking us up at the airport)
If they search your bag, afterwards they zip tie it closed and add a nice note.
My biggest fear is all the tiny things I pack for my kids, socks, hair bows, clips, and my undies will get lost if it gets opened accidentially or by TSA. so I use lots of ziplocs and the zip ties.

 

[magicaldisney]

You can get TSA locks which have an indicator which shows if they have been unlocked.

You are also free to lock your luggage with whatever locks you chose, however, if the TSA chooses your bag to inspect, they will be cut off.

I lock my bag simply to prevent from accidental opening. No lock will prevent a dedicated thief from opening luggage.

We also use TSA locks to help keep luggage from opening. With zip ties once they're cut off, they're off. With TSA locks, in theory they should be locked back up if someone looks inside. If a thief wants to get in, nothing you put on the luggage will stop him/her.

 

[alien]

We zip tied our bags on the way to MCO - prior to the new alerts and they were fine. Bought the TSA locks at Walmart and locked 6 of 8 bags with the locks and zipped lock the other 2 (only had 6 locks). Bags were fine. We did see one person's bag with the zipper wide open (don't know it was broken or not). Prior to her bag coming down the carousel, one of her shoes and her perfume came down first!

 

[carl59]

We use TSA locks on all 4 of our suitcases the last trip we took. When we pickup the suitcases at the airport one lock was missing, the others showed no sign of being opened. Nothing was missing from the suitcase. So who knows what is going on behind closed doors? We are most likely no locking them on our trip to WDW. If someone wants something from your suitcase, they are go to get it one way or another.