TSA Locks

Has anyone any reliable information about how well these locks work?
I've bought two for my air travel but now I'm hearing horror stories
about TSA not having keys and breaking into luggage. Sounds like urban
legend to me but who knows?

Thanks

In article <1131559379.576087.126770@g14g2000cwa. .com>,
"krallison" <krallison@> wrote:
>Has anyone any reliable information about how well these locks work?
>I've bought two for my air travel but now I'm hearing horror stories
>about TSA not having keys and breaking into luggage. Sounds like urban
>legend to me but who knows?
>
Probably true. However, if you use the TSA locks at least you make
it harder than just unzipping your bag and probably manage to get
ripped off less by the standard run of the mill ramp rat for the
airline.
Even regular locks mainly were used to deter the lazy, not for
any real security prior to 9-11.

--
"In other words- and this is the rock-solid principle on which the whole
of the Corporation's Galaxywide success is founded- their fundamental design flaws
are completely hidden by their superficial design flaws."
-D. Adams _So Long, and Thanks for all The Fish_

On the Monday after Thanksgiving in 2004 in Fort Lauderdale we used curbside
check-in and the folks checking the luggage did not have a key to open our
TSA locks.
--
G in Cherry Hill, NJ

"krallison" <krallison@> wrote in message
news:1131559379.576087.126770@g14g2000cwa. o...
> Has anyone any reliable information about how well these locks work?
> I've bought two for my air travel but now I'm hearing horror stories
> about TSA not having keys and breaking into luggage. Sounds like urban
> legend to me but who knows?
>
> Thanks
>

> On the Monday after Thanksgiving in 2004 in Fort Lauderdale we used
curbside
> check-in and the folks checking the luggage did not have a key to open our
> TSA locks.
> --

I would think that's a good thing. You don't want the airline handlers to
open your luggage. Just TSA.

I've had TSA locks on my stuff. They can open the locks with no problem.
They just have a tendancy to not put them back on.

Dave

krallison wrote:
> Has anyone any reliable information about how well these locks work?
> I've bought two for my air travel but now I'm hearing horror stories
> about TSA not having keys and breaking into luggage. Sounds like urban
> legend to me but who knows?
>
> Thanks
>
They work fine most of the time. I had one jam in England and had to
break it with a simple pair of pliers. The best I have seen were at
WalMart made by Master and prices about $8.

The folks who didn't have the key to our TSA locks WERE the TSA people at
FLL who were checking the incoming luggage at the curb.

We unlocked the locks, they looked and then we had to relock everything.

That wasn't the way it was supposed to work. They are supposed to be able
to unlock the luggage, inspect to their heart's content, and then relock it.
--
G in Cherry Hill, NJ

"Dave Ferguson" <dvferg@> wrote in message
news:H3wcf.6321$2y.3171@newsread2.news.atl.earthli nk.net...
>
>> On the Monday after Thanksgiving in 2004 in Fort Lauderdale we used
> curbside
>> check-in and the folks checking the luggage did not have a key to open
>> our
>> TSA locks.
>> --
>
> I would think that's a good thing. You don't want the airline handlers
> to
> open your luggage. Just TSA.
>
> I've had TSA locks on my stuff. They can open the locks with no problem.
> They just have a tendancy to not put them back on.
>
> Dave
>
>

Just keep in mind that luggage is only meant to protect the contents and
locks are only
meant to keep the zippers from opening.

I too have a few TSA locks from Master. I've only used them on our cruise in
September.
TSA is supposed to have master keys available for those locks and if I ever
have any of mine broken because they don't have a key, someone in TSA will
be buying me a new lock.

As a hobbyist locksmith, I can open any luggage lock in less than 20 seconds
using a plain paperclip. So don't put a cheap lock on fabric luggage to
protect high priced items. Keep your valuables with you.

"CFL" <mrollie@m> wrote in message
news:e8wcf.22$Xx4.13@tornado.tampabay....
> krallison wrote:
>> Has anyone any reliable information about how well these locks work?
>> I've bought two for my air travel but now I'm hearing horror stories
>> about TSA not having keys and breaking into luggage. Sounds like urban
>> legend to me but who knows?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
> They work fine most of the time. I had one jam in England and had to
> break it with a simple pair of pliers. The best I have seen were at
> WalMart made by Master and prices about $8.

Thanks all for your replies. I guess I will be using the locks Friday
when I travel. Will report any problems in future.

Karen

That would be surprising, since TSA doesn't "check in" luggage curbside.....
they are the ones inside the terminal, with all the machines.....

Again, TSA personnel have the necessary keys to unlock the bags, as long the
locks are legitimate TSA-approved locking mechanisms.



" G." wrote:

> The folks who didn't have the key to our TSA locks WERE the TSA people at
> FLL who were checking the incoming luggage at the curb.
>
> We unlocked the locks, they looked and then we had to relock everything.
>
> That wasn't the way it was supposed to work. They are supposed to be able
> to unlock the luggage, inspect to their heart's content, and then relock it.
> --
> G in Cherry Hill, NJ
>
> "Dave Ferguson" <dvferg@> wrote in message
> news:H3wcf.6321$2y.3171@newsread2.news.atl.earthli nk.net...
> >
> >> On the Monday after Thanksgiving in 2004 in Fort Lauderdale we used
> > curbside
> >> check-in and the folks checking the luggage did not have a key to open
> >> our
> >> TSA locks.
> >> --
> >
> > I would think that's a good thing. You don't want the airline handlers
> > to
> > open your luggage. Just TSA.
> >
> > I've had TSA locks on my stuff. They can open the locks with no problem.
> > They just have a tendancy to not put them back on.
> >
> > Dave
> >
> >