I%26#39;ve seen these %26quot;TSA Locks%26quot; advertised for your luggage that allow TSA inspectors to open with master keys - instead of destroying the locks.
(You can buy them at Rick Steve%26#39;s site)
We%26#39;re traveling to France in April, and we%26#39;re trying to get everything into carry-ons. However, I fear that at some point the airlines will insist on making us check our bags - and for security reasons today, they%26#39;ll probably want/need to inspect them without us being there. The promise of these TSA Locks is that the appropriate inspector can get in, and any other inappropriate and tempted individuals can%26#39;t.
So my question for the forum is whether they%26#39;ve successfully used these locks - or is this just some marketing promise that can%26#39;t be fulfilled in real life?
Further, are there differences between American and French bag-handlers that makes the TSA Lock moot anyway?
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I don%26#39;t have any information on TSA locks as I%26#39;ve never used them. I have always just used the lock that came standard with the suitcase. And everytime I%26#39;ve checked my luggage, security has opened my locks and gone thru my luggage. (I%26#39;ll have a sticker on the outside of my luggage - or I believe even on the inside - that says that they%26#39;ve gone thru it)
I%26#39;ve been confused by this since its locked, but others have told me that they have %26#39;keys%26#39; that can basically open up all standard luggage locks.
Others will probably have more information for you, but thought I%26#39;d offer my experiences...
Have a great trip.
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Just be sure not to pack anything you can%26#39;t afford to lose in your checked bag. I always just leave mine unlocked and I%26#39;ve never lost anything. I frequently find the TSA form inside when I unpack! I can%26#39;t actually answer your question about the locks, but like I said, I%26#39;ve never had a problem just leaving my bags unlocked.
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kirkrik: We just got back from France last week and used the TSA locks. We have BIG signs at our airport telling you NOT to lock your checked bags UNLESS you have a TSA-approved lock. Otherwise the TSA agents have the authorisation to break your lock(s) to gain access to your bag.
With this said, I asked the TSA agent behind the check-in counter about these locks outside of the USA and he advised us that the locks are ONLY for the U.S. portions of the flights and if bags are locked and need to be inspected in a foreign country, those agents may or may not have the appropriate %26quot;key%26quot; to open the lock and/or may not even bother to look at the lock -- they%26#39;ll just break it open.
So, we didn%26#39;t use the TSA locks on the return trip, but did use some little plastic locks (you could also use plastic wire ties), and when the bags got back home, they weren%26#39;t even disturbed.
By the way, you can pick TSA-approved locks at Target, Walmart, or other such stores which sell luggage.
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The whole TSA thing seems to apply to the USA only - I%26#39;ve not come across any European airports suggesting you should check bags unlocked.
As I travel in the USA frequently I%26#39;ll try and invest in some of these TSA approved locks. Since 9/11, when this locked luggage issue started, I%26#39;ve used cable ties in the USA that the TSA can cut off if they want to.
I%26#39;m not comfortable with checking unlocked luggage - not all baggage handlers are honest, sadly, and insurance doesn%26#39;t cover you for an unlocked bag - so the cable ties where the best option until now.
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I use TSA locks all the time and haven%26#39;t had a problem with them outside of the U.S. I%26#39;ve found that if they want to search my bags in Germany, they do it right there in front of me when I check the bags at the counter, not like the U.S. where they may do it later on after you%26#39;ve checked your bags.
The TSA is only in the U.S. so I would imagine that any security persons in other countries would have to cut your TSA locks if they needed to get inside your luggage. I did also find when traveling from Columbus, GA last month that the TSA employees at that tiny airport did not have the keys for these locks so I had to open the locks for them anyway.
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The trouble with TSA-approved locks is that though all TSA inspectors are supposed to have keys for them by now, odds are that many don%26#39;t. So, if openning your luggage for inspection becomes necessary, they%26#39;ll simply cut or %26#39;pop%26#39; the locks by any means available. As for any additional %26#39;security%26#39; any luggage lock provides, it will be at best minimal--since most can be cut ot %26#39;popped..%26#39; by almost anyone with little difficulty. A practical alternative are simply locking nylon %26#39;..bundling ties..%26#39;. Packages of these are readily available at any home center or hardware store. Use these %26#39;ties%26#39; to secure the zipper tabs of your bags. If your luggage arrives with the %26#39;tie%26#39; missing or cut, you know your bag has been openned and you can immediately take steps to examine your bags and their contents and take any appropriate action on-the-spot. Once you leave the airport, you%26#39;re pretty much on your own. Remember to carry extra %26#39;ties%26#39; with you for the return trip.
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