To Lock or Not To Lock ???

[siobhan1997]

What are the alternatives to not locking your checked luggage, has anyone used those plastic colored closures through their zippers on luggage? The ones you can purchase at any hardware store. They can be easily cut off.

What will you do, use or not? Need experienced help !

Thanks,

 

[safetymom]

Don't put anything in your suitcase of value or that you can't afford to lose.

I wouldn't bother locking it since someone can get in the suitcase in a matter of seconds.

If you want to stop the zippers from sliding open then use those plastic ties.

 

[Nebsky]

TSA will cut the locks off then put a sticker on it to say that it was searched.

We checked bags leaving MCO last August and had our resort mugs in there. All got stolen. Heck I didnt even lock it because I figured they had already pilfered enough stuff and would leave my dirty clothes alone...nope...Then they also bust the zipper off..I filed a complaint with TSA and am still waiting on a response.

Like safetymom said, do not put anything valuable in there. Carry it with you.

 

[mark & sandra]

Most times if you do choose to lock the suitcases just wait at the screening area for your luggage to go through. If it gets pulled aside, offer the keys to the agent to open the lock. One thing we now do is put all footwear in 1 small suitcase and we don't lock that one. It always is the one that gets searched.

 

[siobhan1997]

I know I won't put any thing valuable at all in my checked luggage, just clothes and shoes.

It seems to me though that there are many people who are authorized behind the scenes to open the luggage.

I have been following a story here in Canada about two guys who worked at Pearson International in Toronto who have been charged with millions of dollars in stolen merchandise, cash etc. that they stole while working at Pearson from peoples luggage. Then they set themselves up in two warehouses and sold all these items on Ebay!! That is very scary. They would sell anything.

So when I saw this story I became concerned about the US and there system.

I think putting our shoes in one bag is a good idea. I will do this, and maybe lock it to see if this bag is searched. The others shall only contain our clothes so I think I will use the colored plastic tags on those ones.

Appreciate the input.
Thanks

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

If they want to get in it, they will cut the locks. If someone wants to steal your bags, they will. IMHO, take it, don't break it. Luggage locks are useless.

 

[tjmw2727]

Another vote for don't lock it and don't pack it.

If it has value carry it on - if you don't need it don't bring it. DH and I have been using key ring rounds for years. Keeps the bags from opening and keeps the "honest people honest"! We have had the bags opened twice both times on the way back from MCO to Logan. Once the key rings were put back on and the note was inside and the other time the key rings were lost and the plastic neon green ties kept the bags closed.

You can buy the plastic non rip ties now at home depot and this way at least your bag won't open by accident and you will know if it has been opened.

IMHO an obvious lock in these times is just asking for a search, YMMV.

TJ

 

[n2mm]

Never lock here. Actually just yesterday TSA said, "your bags are unlocked aren't they?" yes they are. Either you leave them unlocked or TSA will unlock them for you. If it's valuable, you carry it. I agree with most, if someone wants your bags, they are going to get them. Not alot we can do about it. We travel to WDW 4-6 trips a year and consider ourselves lucky that we haven't had any problems yet. We do keep ALL clothes in a couple of our suitcases, and ALL hard items in one certain bag (we call it our "gadget" bag) (soaps, shampoes, brushes, blowdryers, pins, fanny packs, fans, pouchos, umbrellas....) If anything peaks their curiousity, it will be our gadget bag. We do keep brushes and odds and ends in zip lock bags for easy inspection. In our clothes bags we keep socks and undies all in zip lock bags too.

 

[mad4themouse]

I don't put anything of value in my checked bags and I don't lock them.

But I do use those plastic ties from the hardware store to "lock" the zippers together. I figure that if the TSA wants to get into my luggage to check it, then it's no big effort on their part to cut those ties off. But a thief in baggage handling is going to skip over my bags because their too much trouble and go after someone else's without any closures.

 

[drogerstn]

For those using plastic "cable ties". Since passengers can't take a knife, pliers, or wire cutters as carry-on what do you take with you to cut the cable ties open when you arrive at your destination?

 

[mad4themouse]

I pack a small pair of scissors in an unlocked outer pocket of the luggage. Just unzip that to get the scissors and then cut the ties with that.

 

[Lori-n-NY]

I tape a pair of nail clippers to the inside of the outer pocket. I bought cable ties that are big enough to do the job but thin enough that I can cut them off.
I bet you could ask the front desk as your checking in for a pair of sissors. Snip the cable ties and your good to go.

I have used cable ties the last two trips and the ones I put on were still on when I got my luggage back. But my carryon was searched both outbound trips from home airport. Of course with camera, batteries and charger, gameboy, hand held games and cd player along with important papers all stuffed in neatly it took me forever to organize it all back in so I could get the bag to zip. But I only had about 4 minutes on plane before we started to move. last one on close the door routine..

So just cable tie and and your ready to go.

Lori

 

[tjmw2727]

I use the key ring's so I didn't think that would be an issue. Last trip the TSA went through our stuff and used the plastic locking ties. Luckily my MIL had warned me as that happend to her. Like others, I put a small pair of nail sissors in the outside pocket of the checked luggage.

Otherwise you could ask at the hotel or just zip to the gift shop and buy sissors or nail clippers.

TJ

 

[inkkognito]

We use cable ties all of the time (of course, I work for a company that makes them and I get tons of them free). They work out really well...we usually wait to watch our luggage go through the x-ray, and when it was searched once, cable ties are what they used to relock it. We keep nail clippers in an outer pouch for cutting them off.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[drogerstn]

Thanks for the help. I was wondering if nail clippers would work on the cable ties; I'm out of cables ties so I haven't tested this. I'll take nail clippers with me as carry-on so I won't have to worry about them getting lost. Also, I'd end up putting one nail clipper in each checked bag in case one of the bags was lost or delayed by the airline.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Originally posted by drogerstn
Thanks for the help. I was wondering if nail clippers would work on the cable ties; I'm out of cables ties so I haven't tested this. I'll take nail clippers with me as carry-on so I won't have to worry about them getting lost. Also, I'd end up putting one nail clipper in each checked bag in case one of the bags was lost or delayed by the airline.

I don't think nail clippers can be carried on. I believe they are still on the forbidden list.
We used those twistie ties that come with plastic baggies to go through our zippers when we flew to Seattle in August. Our bags were not searched, so we did not have to deal with that. However, it gave us a little extra confidence. My dad uses cable ties and simply asks someone to cut them once he picks up his bag at the airport. According to him there are people all over that have access to scissors. We usually put the underware in plastic bags to keep searchers hands off. (Clear ones that they can see through). We also put shoes in plastic bags, now that they like to have them on top of the clothes. Keeps the clean clothes from getting dirty.

 

[safetymom]

Nail clippers need to be in checked baggage but you can do that.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by safetymom
Nail clippers need to be in checked baggage but you can do that.

Nope, you can bring on the nailclippers, along with the harmless corkscrew.