Tsa Locks??????

Is it worthwhile to get TSA locks for our luggage. We leave for Paris Mondat, Hooray!!! But some friends have suf=ggested getting TSA locks. They had been flying in the U.S. and when they retreived their luggage and unpacked several items of clothing were missing. I know a lock won%26#39;t deter a determined thief but might it make them move on to an easier target.

Does anyone have any experience with them? Don%26#39;t pack valuables in shipped luggage but would hate to lose comfortable shoes, etc. Or would locked luggage give the %26quot;wrong%26quot; signal and be targeted.

I would appreciate advice.

|||

For the past few years I haven%26#39;t put locks on my luggage for the reason that you mentioned above - that it would give the %26quot;wrong%26quot; signal and be targeted. Also, I was told that any lock can be easily broken, so I don%26#39;t bother anymore, though, to tell you the truth, it makes me VERY nervous.

|||

I%26#39;m not sure that TSA locks are worth a dam. Anyone who wants into your bag can probably either pick, clip or pop the lock. Your best bet (to keep the casual and curious out is to simply go down to your local home center and purchase a supply of locking nylon ties, of the sort used to bundle wires, etc. A package of 50-100 is only a couple of dollars, You need to cut these each time you open the bag...but at least this way, when your luggage is returned to you, you%26#39;ll have a quick visual clue as to whether it has been tampered with (by anyone) and be able to inspect it immediately.

|||

i bought 2 TSA locks to go to the us in april, one got broken...without the fanous ticket inside saying the TSA looked in my bag (my friend had it, so it means someone else broke it, or the TSA just broke it wihtout worrying)

|||

We had TSA locks broken last year - once going into Malaysia and then the other when we returned home.

I am assuming that this was done in Malaysia and not Australia, but who knows???

Anyway I wouldn%26#39;t bother with them again. Waste of money as far as I can see.

|||

TSA locks can only be opened by authorized agents in the US and England. In France the agents would not have the proper key to open the lock for baggage inspection. So you could use it on the outbound but not on the return.

I personally dont lock my luggage anymore. I just carry valuables with me in my carry on.

|||

Thanks all. I won%26#39;t bother with the locks. May try to get the nylon ties. Good advice from everyone as usual. Oh for the %26quot;good, old days%26quot; when I could use combination locks--have several of these just sitting around.

|||

I assume theyre a waste of time - Ive never heard of them :)

I occasionally lock my luggage - or used to , until I was asked to open my bags by customs in Sydney and couldnt find the key. The customs guy just popped the lock and away we went.

I assume that anyone intent on pilfering would have either this knowledge - or a key.............

|||

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;TSA locks can only be opened by authorized agents in the US and England%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

And by now, these locks have been around long enough so that every casual thief working around baggage handling at any airport probably has the %26#39;..master key..%26#39;. The theives are probably who TSA inspectors ask to open your bags, when they%26#39;ve misplaced their keys.

|||

We have used the nylon ties for years now. They keep honest people hones, that%26#39;s all. Be sure to tuck a few extras in for getting home, and something to cut them with when you arrive. I slip nail clippers into a side pocket of checked luggage with no problem. Of course we carry-on all valuables, sentimental or otherwise.

|||

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.

Removed on: 1:24 am, August 15, 2009