Tsa Locks-asda

[Netty]

Hi went to asda yesterday and they have quite a few travel things in including TSA locks!
a set of 2 padlocks costs £3.97 also they had TSA combination locks which were £5.97 each i think!might of been £4.97 though!!

 

[princess jackson]

We bought extras ones from Tesco £5 for 2, bargain.

 

[scojos]

just got back from asda having bought some and saw this post!!!
talk about good minds thinking alike
tracy

 

[Disney owl]

Ever thought about using tie wraps? much cheaper yet secure & if yoour case is opened will be refastened with them

 

[magicmouse2]

Saw them but every time we have flown we have been told not to lock cases as they will break the lock to check them. They usually leave us a nice card inside telling us our bags have been searched. Hence I never fly home with dirty laundry.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Be warned... I bought two in December (for a trip to Colorado and California in January). By the time we got back (after two transatlantic flights and four internal US flights) we had NEITHER of them - they had been removed/cut-off/whatever by either the TSA of customs (one of our bags got left at LHR and only followed us to the US 5 days later, so had to clear customs without us) or whoever...

My opinion, now, is that TSA locks are a waste of time - will be buying those pull through tamper-proof ties... doubt they will do much, but at least I am not buying TSA locks to throw into the etha...

Boo

 

[freckles and boo]

Hi from Chicago!

My husband flies domestically and internationally many, many times a year for work. His checked bags are searched nearly every trip because he often must pack tools and electronic equipment which look suspicious on the scanners. Each time he has used a lock (TSA approved or not) it has been cut off and never seen again. We don't even bother with locks any more and simply use the zip ties. They will keep your bags from popping open while being handled but are much, much cheaper than locks. TSA usually will re-secure your bags with a red tie and leave a little note if they are searched.

Have a great trip!

 

[florida sun]

I used the TSA locks last year, both my bags were searched and a note put inside and both were securly locked back up again using the TSA locks. I would def use them again.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is "TSA" ?

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is "TSA" ?

"Transport Security Administration" - the agency that x-rays and searches your bags (and you and your hand baggage too) when you use air travel in the US.

You used to be able to lock suitcases that you checked-in at the airport, but this was changed after 9/11. Now you are not supposed to lock them, because the TSA want to be able to search your bags if they see fit (sometimes because they have seen something odd on an x-ray, sometimes because of random selection). If you lock your suitcase, they will cut the lock off to search it.

A set of "TSA Approved" locks have been developed where the TSA agents (at the US airports) are supposed to have a master key to be able to open the padlocks (so they don't need to cut them off). Unfortunately many frequent travellers have discovered that either not all agents have these keys handy or just can't be bothered to use them (so they cut the locks of anyway).

Some TSA agents will re-lock your case (or stick a zip tie to seal it), others wont. Some agents stick a note in your case to say that it has been searched, others wont. It is a lottery - which I think is bad: they should ALWAYS secure the case and stick a note in to say it has been searched...

The funniest story I heard from a frequent traveller was that when his suitcase arrived at their destination, it had SOMEONE ELSE'S TSA approved padlock on it! He had to get airport security to cut the lock off (because, it not being his lock, he didn't know the combination!).

The best airports are those that do the TSA searches whilst your suitcase is still in view: if they are going to search your case, they will do it whilst you watch, so you can lock it afterwards.

Personally, after my (and others) experiences of TSA locks, I am going to use zip ties.

Boo

 

[Huggles]

I'd go for the cable ties. You can get them in various lengths, thickness and colours. If you use a coloured one it also helps you know if your bag has been examined or tampered with ( ie if you use yellow and it's red/missing when you get there...). Thus if an officer asks if you packed the bag yourself etc you can let him know in advance of it being opened if someone has been in it since you saw it last . Plus you don't have to worry about losing keys; just take lots of cable ties with you ( you'd be amazed how handy and multi purpose they are..you can use them to secure identifying tags to your car aerial so you can find it easier in the car parks).

Anyway, if someone wants into your suitcase rest assured they'll get in , padlock or not!

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Anyway, if someone wants into your suitcase rest assured they'll get in , padlock or not!

Agreed, NEVER EVER pack anything valuable in your case. With the current TSA rules and regularity of bag searches, there are definitely more "opportunities" to get into bags. My mother-in-law has also told me how some airport employees manage to open cases by unthreading the zip (even if it is padlocked)...

Have known even quite sane and normally sensible people pack jewellery, cameras, video cameras, expensive souveniers, laptops etc. into their checked luggage and live to regret it...

Boo

 

[Huggles]

Yep, it is oh so easy to unthread a zip, in fact its easy to access a holdall even if the two zippers are locked together. I make sure I buy a roll of duct tape at Walmart when I'm there and I put a few loops of it round the holdall ( across the zip, then under the bag and up the other side , if you get my drift) before I'm happy. If they want to be obvious and slash the bag open, then so be it but their actions might be a tad more obvious and open to question! And don't think your hard sided suitcases with built in locks are safer as those who want access will gain access no matter what is in their way.
Always keep valuables in hand luggage...and make sure it's not too big or it will be taken from you and put in the hold, thus negating all your efforts at security.