Locking suitcases - what is policy these days for hold luggage

In message <I1d7f.7664$Ce5.1620@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net>, at 22:15:04 on
Mon, 24 Oct 2005, Marcus Fox
<please-reply-via-newsgroup-th@-i-posted-to.com> remarked:
>> What's the standard proceedure these days re hold luggage? Do people still
>> lock them/use lockable padlocks on them or is this not allowed by airlines
>> since 911?
>
>Generally you should have no problems, but if you fly to/transit the US, the
>TSA will take bolt croppers to your lock.

And it's yet another reason not to pack anything fragile in the hold
luggage. The TSA will unwrap things, and not repack them. Just chuck
them back in the case and onto a conveyer belt. I've not had anything
broken, luckily, but it does make it rather obvious the case has been
searched. They are supposed to put a note inside, but I've never seen
one. How is one to tell the difference between the TSA rifling a case
and a thiefrow baggage handler having done the same?
--
Roland Perry

In message <435e1822$0$65671$892e7fe2@authen.white.readfreene ws.net>, at
12:33:59 on Tue, 25 Oct 2005, Miss L. Toe <missltoemissltoe@m>
remarked:
>>The TSA will unwrap things, and not repack them. Just chuck
>> them back in the case and onto a conveyer belt. I've not had anything
>> broken, luckily, but it does make it rather obvious the case has been
>> searched.
>
>> They are supposed to put a note inside, but I've never seen
>> one.
>
>I have about 10 in my collection.

How do you know they are real, rather than counterfeits put in by
dishonest baggage handlers?
--
Roland Perry