Question for traveling musicians/TSA agants...

[GeorgeG]

A trio I play with could be doing some traveling by airplane somewhere down the road. I've been using a gig bag for my bass guitars and am considering buying a hardshell case. Some are available with "ATA" locks that supposedly allow TSA to open for inspection with keys they have, as opposed to traditional locks that would probably have to be forced and/or broken.

My question: Do these locks really make a difference?

I tend to avoid flying simply because of a bad experience having luggage stolen eight years ago. I realize TSA agents are separate from baggage handlers and I'd like to cooperate with the TSA, but I never will trust baggage handlers again, especially with expensive bass guitars. I don't think they could qualify for carry on.

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[wowsmom]

A trio I play with could be doing some traveling by airplane somewhere down the road. I've been using a gig bag for my bass guitars and am considering buying a hardshell case. Some are available with "ATA" locks that supposedly allow TSA to open for inspection with keys they have, as opposed to traditional locks that would probably have to be forced and/or broken.

My question: Do these locks really make a difference?

I tend to avoid flying simply because of a bad experience having luggage stolen eight years ago. I realize TSA agents are separate from baggage handlers and I'd like to cooperate with the TSA, but I never will trust baggage handlers again, especially with expensive bass guitars. I don't think they could qualify for carry on.

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Can't really answer about the locks, but I can tell you when my son's music department flew from CA to NYC this spring, my son was allowed to bring his trombone on board...so perhaps your bass guitar would fit? Might be worth checking into.

 

[bicker]

You may get more response on the Transportation board.

However, the answer is pretty clear: If you don't have approved locks, then most of the time they'll break open your cases to inspect what's inside, compensating you with little more than a boilerplate apology. If you do have approved locks, then most of the time they'll use the key to open your cases to inspect what's inside (and if they do break it open, then they may actually apologize more $incerely).

So, for you, the question is how often do you want to be buying new cases.

 

[CPT Tripss]

You might want to head over to www.flyertalk.com and their security board to browse and ask your question if the transportation board here generates no answers.