Locking Luggage

What is the general feeling about not locking your luggage per the new
guidelines?

We have built-in locks in our luggage and if you don't lock it, it's
very easy for the latches to be opened. On our last trip, one of the
latches was open when we got our bags from the luggage belt. Luckily
we have straps around them just for this reason.

Any experience with the TSA opening your locked bags? Any stolen
items from unlocked luggage?

On disembarkation in FLL last Saturday, our combination locks were cut
off both bags before they got to the warehouse. One bag had a TSA seal
and the other did not. The unsealed bag had contained our digital
camera (and ALL OUR PHOTOS). This was by far the stupidest thing I have
ever done. They could have taken anything else out of that suitcase and
I wouldn't be upset. I can buy another camera, but the photos are
irreplaceable.

Candy <-- searching for receipts

Doug wrote:
> What is the general feeling about not locking your luggage per the new
> guidelines?
>
> We have built-in locks in our luggage and if you don't lock it, it's
> very easy for the latches to be opened. On our last trip, one of the
> latches was open when we got our bags from the luggage belt. Luckily
> we have straps around them just for this reason.
>
> Any experience with the TSA opening your locked bags? Any stolen
> items from unlocked luggage?
>

I purchased some numbered plastic locks that work similar to cable ties.
They are called Tamper Gard manufactured by Austin House. Once locked
in place, they must be cut off. They can't be replaced without leaving
evidence of the luggage being tampered with because the number is unique.

Since I am cheap and don't want to keep buying new ones, I put the
through only one zipper tab. I put a key lock thorough the other zipper
tab and lock it to the plastic lock. I can unlock the key lock and open
the bag, saving the plastic lock. If the TSA wants to get in, they cut
the plastic lock which I will then replace.

>
>What is the general feeling about not locking your luggage per the new
>guidelines?
>
>We have built-in locks in our luggage and if you don't lock it, it's
>very easy for the latches to be opened. On our last trip, one of the
>latches was open when we got our bags from the luggage belt. Luckily
>we have straps around them just for this reason.
>
>Any experience with the TSA opening your locked bags? Any stolen
>items from unlocked luggage?
>

If someone wants to steal something out of your luggage, not many locks will
stop them! May not be TSA personnel doing the stealing. Many hands touch
that suitcase after you leave it at the airport. If concerned, put item(s)
in your carry on. In regard to being present when TSA "may" open your
luggage - Can you imagine the chaos and delays this would create! Just use
a plastic tie or belt to avoid unintentional opening.

"Doug" <dblaze1@tampabay.> wrote in message
news:s0e2pvgdrtbjld05fojd7hli4ajdq7u9dp@...
> What is the general feeling about not locking your luggage per the new
> guidelines?
>
> We have built-in locks in our luggage and if you don't lock it, it's
> very easy for the latches to be opened. On our last trip, one of the
> latches was open when we got our bags from the luggage belt. Luckily
> we have straps around them just for this reason.
>
> Any experience with the TSA opening your locked bags? Any stolen
> items from unlocked luggage?
>

I always lock my luggage and if I can use cable ties of a certain color so
that I will know if anyone has entered my luggage. I completely disagree
with these TSA people being able to search my luggage without me being
present but I know it won;t change just yet but my voice will be heard if
they do. As for theft from luggage, it has skyrocketed since this inception
and thousands of complaints are registered weekly with TSA, you just don't
hear much about it. They did a sting in Miami and caught a couple of TSA
types stealing thousands of dollars worth of things but after the initial
blurb in the news it was quickly quieted.
Jim


"Doug" <dblaze1@tampabay.> wrote in message
news:s0e2pvgdrtbjld05fojd7hli4ajdq7u9dp@...
> What is the general feeling about not locking your luggage per the new
> guidelines?
>
> We have built-in locks in our luggage and if you don't lock it, it's
> very easy for the latches to be opened. On our last trip, one of the
> latches was open when we got our bags from the luggage belt. Luckily
> we have straps around them just for this reason.
>
> Any experience with the TSA opening your locked bags? Any stolen
> items from unlocked luggage?
>

At the ticket counter on a flight last week in San Francisco they were
asking everybody with real locks on their bags to please unlock them. When
we landed there were many bags (well over half of them) that has the
inspected by the TSA sticker on them, and about half of those had badly
busted locks because people still lock their bags.

If your lock can't be popped if they need to without damaging the bag, then
I wouldn't lock it. The ticket counter was recommending tape around the
bag, this way you could tell if they were in it, and they could get in
without damaging the bag.


"Doug" <dblaze1@tampabay.> wrote in message
news:s0e2pvgdrtbjld05fojd7hli4ajdq7u9dp@...
> What is the general feeling about not locking your luggage per the new
> guidelines?
>
> We have built-in locks in our luggage and if you don't lock it, it's
> very easy for the latches to be opened. On our last trip, one of the
> latches was open when we got our bags from the luggage belt. Luckily
> we have straps around them just for this reason.
>
> Any experience with the TSA opening your locked bags? Any stolen
> items from unlocked luggage?
>

The last time I was in the Miami airport, they had stations where you could
pay to have your bags tightly wrapped in plastic. The only people I saw
getting this done appeared to be from Latin America. My guess is that they
were concerned about their bags being opened by luggage handlers in their own
countries.

I'm curious about what happened to that service. If the TSA wants to get
into one of those bags, they'll have to cut through all that plastic.

They are still around, though not as busy. It cuts off with one slit of a
razor knife.



"Odysseus" <x@x.x> wrote in message
news:uuikb.173019$%h1.165277@sccrnsc02...
> The last time I was in the Miami airport, they had stations where you
could
> pay to have your bags tightly wrapped in plastic. The only people I saw
> getting this done appeared to be from Latin America. My guess is that
they
> were concerned about their bags being opened by luggage handlers in their
own
> countries.
>
> I'm curious about what happened to that service. If the TSA wants to get
> into one of those bags, they'll have to cut through all that plastic.
>

In article <s0e2pvgdrtbjld05fojd7hli4ajdq7u9dp@>, Doug
<dblaze1@tampabay.> wrote:

> We have built-in locks in our luggage and if you don't lock it, it's
> very easy for the latches to be opened. On our last trip, one of the
> latches was open when we got our bags from the luggage belt. Luckily
> we have straps around them just for this reason.

I have the same problem. I ended up purchasing an inexpensive soft
sided bag to use when flying to a port.

--
Charles

In article <e6bkb.17479$h47.1590@bignews4.>, Jim
<jimbragg@> wrote:

> I always lock my luggage and if I can use cable ties of a certain color so
> that I will know if anyone has entered my luggage. I completely disagree
> with these TSA people being able to search my luggage without me being
> present but I know it won;t change just yet but my voice will be heard if
> they do.

I disagree with it too but is not practicle to lock it anyway. If I
lock the built in locks and they break them the bag becomes useless to
me.

--
Charles