To lock or not to lock? Info from Virgin on the suitcase dilemma

[UKDEB]

I know much has been discussed here on this issue. This is the latest from Virgin i-fly:

<b>Baggage screening on departing the USA</b>

Since the beginning of 2003 the US Transport Security agency (TSA) has been screening 100% of the baggage at all US commercial airports. In line with this policy the TSA has advised passengers to leave bags unlocked to make any necessary searches easier. <b>We must stress that Virgin Atlantic does not endorse this advice and we continue to advise our passengers to lock their bags securely.</b>

If your bag has been opened as part of the TSA's screening process, you will know as it will have been resealed with a tamper evident seal and a notice placed inside the bag informing you that it has been opened for inspection by a TSA official.

If any loss or damage occurs during the screening, claims for damage must be handled through your own travel insurance policy.

Naturally, the TSA are doing their best to make sure that no such loss or damage occurs. However, if you feel you have a case for a loss or damage claim, the TSA will assess your case on an individual basis. You can call the TSA Consumer Response Center on 1-866 9673 or find out more at www.tsa.gov/public

 

[Lisa1976]

I have been advised to secure our suitcases with plastic garden tags, apparently if the US officials break these they will replace with their own and re-secure your suitcase so its not too bad.

 

[uksaint]

We've been using the plastic cable ties for the last few years - about six trips to the US - on at least two occasions the tags have not been replaced.

Fortunately never had anything go missing though.

 

[bluecdr]

Each trip we have at least one bag opened. We use plasic cable ties when we can or leave the case unopened. If you lock the case TSA will force it open and I doubt that you would win a claim for the damage to the case.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

We had terrible trouble with our cases and their contents being damaged last year by the TSA, won't bore you with the details but suffice to say Virgin got involved and their advice was as Deb said, they still recommend locking. This also is what many insurance companies recommend because in the event of a claim and you haven't locked your cases you could be held negligent.

It's a vicious circle, isn't it - but we have decided on our next trip to risk cheap old padlocks that don't matter if they get ripped off, that way we're covered on the insurance because we did take precautions until matters were out of our hands. Last year the TSA did not put ties/cables on our luggage after is was searched. . . and their attitude to an open and damaged case was tough luck , that's what you pay travel insurance for

 

[TinkTatoo]

We had two out of 4 of our cases opened on the way home - on the advise of the security guys in Orlando we didn't lock them. The two that had been opened were sealed with TSA ties.

This time we will seal our cases with cable ties - it wil offer some security - but lets face it, if someone really wants to get in your case, cable ties and little padlocks won't deter them.

(love this smilie)

 

[wendydis]

hi
just checking if they do search your luggage do they inform you with say a note in the case? and do they secure your cases again once they have searched them? sorry for the silly questions but was just wondering!!!

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

Did anyone see that 'Airport - Miami' programme a couple of years ago? (I think they've rerun it on UKHorizons since) They showed a couple of unscrupulous baggage handlers who had this 'tool' which just split the zip open in one quick movement......it wouldn't have mattered if the people whose cases they were had half a ton of ironwork holding the case shut, these guys just ripped the case open and took whatever they wanted. The inference from the programme was that some people would have just thought the case had split until they realise some valuable was missing.

I will be using cable ties when we go, but if someone wants to get into your case, they will - end of story!!!

 

[WDWfan uk]

Wendy - they do put a sticker on to say that the case has been inspected - not only that, but we saw cases on the carousel that were half open and secured with sticker tape that had been wound round and round the case.

Debbie, we locked our cases on the way out as, when I called Virgin, they were insistent that we should.

On the return trip, we did not lock the cases but used luggage straps we bought from Boots - these have a little plastic lock system which are standard with all those straps and they are cheap so we would not have minded if the security had cut them off.

We DID wonder if it was only the cases that had been locked that had been forced open - since there are numerous signs at check-in telling you not to lock your cases, and I suspect that anything that raises alarm bells when the cases are x-rayed will also be opened.

 

[FloridaSam]

Hi Wendy,

I bet you can't wait to get going! We're booked for March 2005 and are already excited!

We stayed in 2003 at the Ramada at Gatwick and it's a lovely hotel not too far away. As we're flying Virgin this time we're taking everyones advise to check in the night before and then we can have a nice leisurely morning avoiding the queues!

Sam x

Also from Bournemouth!

 

[wendydis]

Hi Sam
I'm glad the Ramada is nice, as you know we are staying there as well and taking advantage of the 15 days parking,do you know what happens with your car on the day of departure? do you drive to the airport or does the hotel take the car to a secure parking and put on a bus?
thanks for all the info?
shame we can't fly from Bournemouth, would save alot of hassle!!!
Wendy

 

[FloridaSam]

Hi Wendy,

We left our car at the hotel and got their minibus to Gatwick.

On the way back there is a freephone just outside the airport for all the hotels and we just rang them to let them know we were back and they came and got us.

Sam

 

[wendydis]

hi Sam
thanks for the info
Wendy