Suitcase lock damage

[Lizzy Lemon]

Did anyone see the holiday programme on BBC1 last night? A lady just returned from Florida had had her suitcase lock broken because security wanted to open her case. The TV prog. said USA security are allowed to do this. So you either lock your case and put up with the consequences or leave your case unlocked with the risk of losing something and not being able to claim on your insurance due to lack of due care and attention. We've bought some brightly coloured straps with a combination lock on really just for the cases being easy to spot on the conveyor. The programme recommended a lock with some sort of code on the bottom that security people can access somehow!

 

[wideeyes]

you can get special locks which they can open without breaking them. heres a link for a site.
LOCKS

 

[CustardTart]

That's v interesting - thanks for the link...

 

[Laurafoster]

When we went this time the secuity at London told us its basically illegal to lock the case so that the american authorities cannot get into it. If you have a TSA lock they can open it with a master key and check anything the need to then lock the case back up.
They had searched one of our cases on the way home, but the only way we knew was as they left a note in there explaining why and apologising for any inconvienience!

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Thanks for the link, they're quite cheap as well.

 

[carolfoy]

I've never locked a case yet, I can't see why you'd need to. As long as its only in airport staff hands when its unlocked it should be fairly safe.

 

[DebIreland]

It's not just U.S. security that do this. When we flew back from Italy 4 years ago, we collected our bags and one of our suitcases had been cut open - a huge, neat square cut out of the front of the case! Why they were so neat is beyond me - it's not like we could re-use it no matter how neat they were, you know! lol I was pretty annoyed at the time but apparently they had every right to do it. There was no note either! Since then we never lock our cases. It might be a good idea to take a digital photo of the case when it's packed just before you close it, just so as you know it wasn't tampered with, for your own peace of mind.

 

[florida sun]

They have the TSA locks in Asda now, 3.75 for a pkt of 2.

I used them last year, my case was opened, and relocked with no problems, I do believe that some insurance policies do not cover your baggage if it is unlocked.

Sue

 

[Dicky Knee]

We bought brightly coloured TSA Straps. These have the locks on the straps(Our Samsonite cases have security locks on them, not padlocks). I have to admit, it made recognising our suitcases on the carousel a lot easier - that is until everybody starts using them. We bought these for our trip to Orlando this year because 3 years ago we had a case wrecked by customs (this was when the US policy was introduced, so luckily Virgin paid for the damage).

 

[wilma-bride]

We bought the TSA locks for the same reason quoted by Sue - you are not covered on your insurance if you don't lock your bags. Combination locks are no good - if they want to get in your bags, chances are they will just cut the locks off (unless you set them to 0000)

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I still don't believe in those TSA locks - saw the programme last night and (whilst it was still on) emailed the programme's email address:

"Have just been watching your programme this evening (25/05/06). There was a feature on "locking your cases" for trips to/from the USA.

During this programme one of your presenters recommended the "TSA Approved" padlocks available to buy (paraphrasing that the TSA can use the special code/key to access your locked cases and relock them after searching them).

I myself bought a couple of these TSA approved padlocks last December, for a trip to the US in January. We flew to the US and flew four internal US flights before returning home to the UK. By the time we got home, both of the TSA approved padlocks had disappeared from our cases (they had either been taken off and not put back OR they had been cut off and discarded). Apparently this is not an uncommon occurrence.

I honestly believe that TSA Approved Padlocks are a waste of money. In light of the current policies in the US, your case is very likely to be opened (by either official TSA staff and/or more "criminally inclined" airport staff). There is little you can do to stop them (even if you place TSA Approved locks on your luggage, chances are they will not remain on them).

Probably the most effective (and economical) thing you can use are "zip ties" -- about as effective as a padlock (if someone really wants to get into your luggage they will anyway) and at least a bit cheaper to replace when they go missing."

Go ahead, buy them, but don't be at all suprised if you don't get them back again. At Orlando they MAY be better at replacing the TSA locks and putting a note in...

Boo

 

[Netty]

Do you think that you are more likely to have your suitcase opened BECAUSE you have TSA locks on them?? to me from what i have read it seems that way. we have always used the usual locks or ties and never had our cases opened, i have bought a couple of TSA locks from asda for this years trip and now i think i'll just use the zip ties...

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I have seen cases coming of the plane on baggage claim with locks busted. One of mine was open but not busted they must had a master key

 

[Goofyish]

We used the TSA straps on our hard sided cases (they have combination locks so can't fit a lock) and TSA locks on my DDs cases.
I like the straps as they make the cases more identifiable and give little protection from the cases bursting open (more risk of this on the way home!).

I don't think any of our cases were opened, either going out or coming home and all straps and locks were present and correct on arriving home

 

[poody1]

we have always used zip ties never had a problem YET

 

[kristieuk]

We nearly always have at least one case opened each trip - just something we expect to happen now. I've stopped using locks, and just use zip ties instead - at the end of thr day, if someone wants to get into your case they will, but it doesn't hurt to discourage them a little.

 

[wifey]

We have never had a problem with TSA type locks on our luggage in or out of Orlando BUT on out trip last year to DLRP via CDG our lock was removed and we never had it returned or had a note inside the case to say why they removed it We never have anything unsafe or suspicious in our cases so don't know to this day why they did it

 

[Boo Boo Too]

As I said, Orlando may be a "special case"... certainly travelling through the wider US (Denver, LA, Burbank, Orange County, Regional Colorado airports and Chicago), you would be very lucky to retain ownership of your TSA locks...

Have had our luggage searched LOADS of times (you can tell when someone has "carefully" riffled through your case... at least you ASSUME it is TSA...), but only had a note once (Miami). There are things that the TSA logically (and probably procedurely) SHOULD do, but more often than not they don't

Out of interest, where do people buy their zip ties from? Have used the twisty ties, TSA locks (not again though), but feel that zip ties are the best way to go. Just need to know where to get some...

Boo

 

[wifey]

Our local Morrisons have something similar in the travel accessories section, price not bad I think they were less than £5

 

[Huggles]

You can buy tubs of zip ties in B&Q or Maplins. They have various colours, lengths and strengths . We use coloured ones and then you can tell if someone has been in your case if they replace it with a clear one or don't replace it. Sometimes the airports replace broken locks or discarded zip ties with their own security ones. If you want to give them the hint to replace it, you can stick a couple of replacements to the outside of your case with duct tape, however as has been said before if someone wants in to your case, then nothing will stop them. Moral is don't put valuable in your checked in luggage.....and to the lady whose case had a square cut from the front; I don't think that was done by security or anyone official, more likely plundered. If Customs etc want into your case and can't get in themselves, then they will hold your case until you attend to open it for them...even if it means sending it under seal to your local airport and having you attend there.