luggage locks??

[mog]

It isn't obvious that I'm leaving tomorrow by the panicked posting of last minute questions, is it?
I know the airlines suggest that you not lock your luggage anymore because they might have to break them to check your luggage. I usually lock them just to keep them from accidentally coming unzipped and losing stuff while being jostled around. We are not flying and I wonder if the cruise line has any such suggestion - do they care if it is locked?

 

[atigeg]

I don't know about the cruise line's preference, but we have switched from locks to cable ties...they will keep your bags from opening but can be easily removed if needed.
On our last cruise, our garmet bag was chosen to be searched by the airline. We didn't know till we got it at baggage claim. Hubby had been worried about that one, as the zipper was broken and he had rigged it together somehow. Fortunately the inspector must have noticed that, as it was carefully taped together and everything remained inside.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Bev J]

Since you are not flying then LOCK your bags, there are many different people who will handle your luggage. We too have been using cable ties for years now along with luggage straps and have had no problems with this.

 

[rae519]

Last flight with Delta (Orlando to Indy) our luggage straps (yellow with our last name in black) came up missing. We are going to look for those plastic ties (police used to use them for handcuffs years ago). I don't hide anything but I really don't like the idea of anyone having access to my bags - you don't know what they can put in or take out.

Rae

(P.S. No, I was never arrested! In the USAF, I was a drug dog handler/cop).

 

[Laura24]

I'm going one step further...I worried about items falling out if the bags were checked, so I purchased at a dollar store the clear zip storage bags for the smaller clothing items like socks,hosiery etc. There just may be less of a chance of *misplacing* such items.

 

[wdwnut76]

I've got a really stupid question regarding cable ties:

If I can't bring anything in my carry-on that's sharp, how did you folks cut off the cable ties? Did you ask the steward?


wdwnut76



Wonder 10/99
Wonder May 11-15, 2003

 

[vicnmickey]

Stick a small pair of scissoris in the front of one of your suitcases. Most of them have zipper part in the front. I asked and they said this was ok, as long as the bag is checked. If they do get lost, I am sure the hotel and or the cruise ship has scissors

 

[ducklite]

We put a junky old pair of wire snips in the front pocket of the suitcase, figuring no one will want to steal them!

Anne

 

[CarolAnnC]

I fly a couple of times per month and I know SWA does confirm at counter check in that your bags are not locked. I suspect if one answered yes, that they are locked, that they will be asked to unlock, or perhaps get sent to the inspection table yikes.

 

[Cruise]

Also, a pair of folding nail clippers (not scissors) will snip off cable ties and can be carried onboard at this time.

Julie

 

[bahama97]

Is the cruise terminal people going to look through my luggage? We are driving down so I won't have to deal with any airlines. What exactly happens with my luggage once we get to the cruise terminal? TIA!

 

[pal2pluto]

Apparently, they are at least x-raying them at this time. We had a leatherman in the front pocket of our large suitcase to snip the zip-ties. On the airlines, this was checked and okay. However, when we got our suitcases, I couldn't find it and thought I forgot it. Luckily I had a pair of fingernail clippers in my carryon bag to snip the zip-ties. About day 2 into the cruise, we got a letter stating they found "contraband" in our suitcase and kept it at the dock, which we could pick up after we debarked. The "contraband" was the leatherman.

 

[Bev J]

When you get to the terminal you hand your checked luggage over to porters who will pile your luggage into huge containers to be taken onto the ship. I assume that it is then sorted to be delivered to your cabin, where it usually sits in front of your cabin door untill you take in inside to unpack. So alot of people have access to your luggage, if you can have it locked you will stop the temptation for somebody to peek inside. I just feel safer with it locked up even though my valuables are in my carryon.

 

[atigeg]

Rae, you should come over the border to our place...my closet is stuffed FULL of cable ties! I work for a company that makes them (they also make all sorts of electrical and electronic components). Twice a year, they have "Giveaway Day," where we are allowed to load up on discontinued product, returns, overruns, etc. As strange as it sounds, my friends are always waiting for that day and asking me to get them cable ties! They have 1001 uses. Everyone who works there, including me, has a huge stash of them in all shapes, colors, and sizes. True story: On one giveaway day, a guy was driving home with his bags of cable ties on the passenger seat. A cop stopped him for speeding, and when he looked in and saw the cable ties, he said, "I'll let you off with just a warning if you'll give me a bag of those." They really do make good handcuffs, as well as cat toys, holiday decortation fasteners, and bike repairers.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Jobro2]

Sorry for such an ignorant question, but what exactly are "cable ties" and where can I get them???

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

They are, well, ties that you wrap around bundles of cables. They are adjustable going on, but once on, must be cut to remove.

Probably the easiest place to pick some up is your local Radio Shack store.

 

[TeamMom011]

I'm with Jobro with the "sorry for the ignorant question" but exactly how do they attach to the suitcase? They obviously don't wrap all the way around so what do they attach to?

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

If you look at your suitcase zipper-puller thingy, you'll see that it has a hole in it; when the two ends of the zipper are pulled together you'll have 2 puller-thingies each with a hole, the cable tie slides thru the 2 holes just like the lock would have.

The cable tie just replaces the lock.

 

[rae519]

Hey Barb - you aren't that far away from my little podunk town in Indiana - I might just take you up on that offer!

And they do make great handcuffs!

Rae

 

[TeamMom011]

thank you Firefighter Mickey. Gotta say I really liked your explanation and use of technical terms like "puller-thingies". Words like that I can understand.