TSA lock for trips to USA

[mushypeas]

I've got two of those plastic Samsonite bags... they have a combination and two locks on the sides...

I'm heading to the States so I assume I won't be able use the combination lock?

 

[MikedOut]

Some interesting experiences. I did a trip in Feb this year (Syd-HNL-DFW-RNO-IND-CHG-SFO-HNL-Syd) and had TSA approved locks on my luggage all the way. I had no evidence that they'd been opened or looked in. I also had a snowboard bag which was locked with a standard key padlock. When leaving HNL for the trip home the sign at the J* checkin said to leave all bags unlocked for checking by TSA staff (and if you wanted your bags locked let the checkin staff know and they would let TSA know) so did as requested and informed the checkin operative who said don't worry just lock them it will be fine..so taking a punt (and expecting to get back to SYD and find locks and bags ruined) I locked them again. Get bags off carousel at SYD ....no visible intrusion/damage. Went home unpacked except for the snowbaord bag which I unlocked 2 days later and lo and behold there's the nice little slip inside the snowboard bag letting me know they'd been there....no damage to lock, zip or contents so I can only assume that they unlocked it with some sort of key and locked it back up again. I've done a few US trips and always locked the bags with no troubles and only once was asked to wait (IAD) while they xrayed it (while it was locked) waited 2 mins...no problems...thanks..have a nice day. In general I've always found the TSA people pretty good natured and some have even had a laugh with me at my 9.5 year old passport photo.

 

[SeaWolf]

I've gotta say, I think the locks are more than a little pointless for any luggage that uses a zipper. It's trivial to just poke a ball point pen into the zipper teeth to push them apart. You can then just run the pen along to open the zipper leaving the locks intact. Once you've done that you simply pull the two zips (as seems to be standard on luggage) still locked to one another along the length of the zipper to close it back up again. No need to unlock and no damage to the zip.
The locks are really just a polite fiction to make the passenger feel better.

 

[jgm]

On my recent trip to Canada via LAX, I found the TSA lock on one ski boot bag had a red indicator. I can't be certain that it wasn't red from a previous trip, but I've never found a slip of paper in anything. My suspicion is that it may have been opened in LA, as all the bags were tagged through to YVR, & the tag on the boot bag had split (both handles were velcro'd together & the tag was round both). The staff at the transfer belt at TBIT stapled it back together & reinforced it with sticky tape.

 

[medhead]

I've gotta say, I think the locks are more than a little pointless for any luggage that uses a zipper. It's trivial to just poke a ball point pen into the zipper teeth to push them apart. You can then just run the pen along to open the zipper leaving the locks intact. Once you've done that you simply pull the two zips (as seems to be standard on luggage) still locked to one another along the length of the zipper to close it back up again. No need to unlock and no damage to the zip.
The locks are really just a polite fiction to make the passenger feel better.

Yeah, true, but if there is a locked bag next to an unlocked bag, is a theft going to stuff around with a pen or are they going to try the unlocked bag?

As for no damage, I always find that a zipper that is not opened by the zip never shuts properly again.

 

[mcm72]

Have a look at this link

New Inventors: ZipFix

i remember seeing this on the ABC a few years back,,

Basically its not a "lock" as such ,, but more a method of you being able to detect that the bag has been tampered with , Then when collecting your bags, you can make mention that it has been tampered with.

not a bad idea i think.

 

[pblackm]

Last June, doing a DONE4, I checked back in at SIN three hours before departure - baggage checked for SIN/LHR/YYV. Flew to LHR, and took train into London for lunch with a friend, back to LHR six hours later and on to Toronto. No baggage arrived at Toronto. Contacted BA, and they said that it would be on the next flight (there are three LHR/YYV each day). Did not arrive next day, and they said that it was because there must have been too much cargo (so much for being oneworld Emerald).

It finally arrived at midnight on Day 3. Minus the TSA lock and plus a damaged zip tag - they'd obviously used some heavy side cutters. No cute little note either.

I have no faith in the locks lasting thorugh baggage handling, but mostly they do. But I still use them for hotel room security, in the full knowledge that I am an optimist.

 

[james4321]

Hi Everyone - I am a new poster here. This is an interesting thread to me, because I have had things removed from my luggage in the past.

And I have seen the video on Youtube that shows just how easy it is to open a locked bag through the zip with a pen - in case you havent seen it here is the address.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXinRy0SIQE

What I do now is to use the plastic wrapping service that is available in most major airports around the world and here in Australia, because with this I can see, while it is still on the carousel, if my bag has been interfered with. And then I can get the airline baggage service to check it out there and then.

Its simple, inexpensive and seems to work fine. What do others think?

 

[JohnK]

Its simple, inexpensive and seems to work fine. What do others think?

The plastic wrap is a good idea but if travelling through the USA the TSA still has the authority to go through your luggage before you get it on the carousel. So they will still cut through the plastic wrap and may also damage your luggage in the process. Not much you can do about it other than claim through travel insurance.

 

[Flashback]

And welcome to AFF james4321!

 

[Voyages]

We got the little zip tags repaired in Adelaide for about $20.

Hi medhead, can you please tell me if the repair shop was located in Wright st in Adelaide cbd? The zipp of this luggage piece of mine got cut/damaged by the USA customs during my recent trip to ADL from IAD.

 

[medhead]

Hi medhead, can you please tell me if the repair shop was located in Wright st in Adelaide cbd? The zipp of this luggage piece of mine got cut/damaged by the USA customs during my recent trip to ADL from IAD.

No it wasn't in the CBD, but down richmond road somewhere to the west of the cbd. I'll have to check with the wife the name of the place.

Edit: I reckon it was Stewart's Casecraft, @ 4/10-12 Deeds Rd, Camden Park - 8295 3926

 

[Voyages]

No it wasn't in the CBD, but down richmond road somewhere to the west of the cbd. I'll have to check with the wife the name of the place.

Edit: I reckon it was Stewart's Casecraft, @ 4/10-12 Deeds Rd, Camden Park - 8295 3926

Got it, thank you medhead

 

[drron]

Well a new twist.Flew SYD-LAX-DFW on Tuesday 14th.When bags were picked up at LAX-TSA locks were in place.When they came out at DFW the lock on one case was in place but opened.No TSA note inside bag.I presume though it was the TSA.The alternative is the baggage handlers thought our stuff was of too little value.

 

[james4321]

Those TSA locks are a complete waste of time. There must be millions of keys in circulation by now, so anybody can open them, anywhere, anytime.

 

[harvyk]

James4321, lets be realistic here. It doesn't matter if your lock is completely unique, the bags themselves are not secure by any means. If someone wants to get into your bag, TSA lock, normal lock or no lock, they will be getting in, and depending if they care about damage to your bag or not it will probably take them about the same amount of time it'd take you to unlock your bags.

I use locks mainly to stop the honest people from having a snoop, and to stop the bag from being accidentially opened.

As the TSA themselves say, use a non TSA lock and they will break it anyway.

 

[straitman]

If it gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling then go for it. If not then it may still be useful as the bad guys may simply move onto a bag without any locks :!:

 

[james4321]

Straitman, my point is that any locks (TSA or otherwise) dont stop the zipper being opened and then reclosed again by using a pen or other pointed item to pierce the zip teeth.
Thats why I think the plastic wrap makes sense - you can see if the plastic is pierced that someone has tried to get into your bag.
Check out the video on you tube www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXinRy0SIQE to see how its done - its so easy its scary!

 

[Mal]

Straitman, my point is that any locks (TSA or otherwise) dont stop the zipper being opened and then reclosed again by using a pen or other pointed item to pierce the zip teeth.

I believe that certain zippers found on expensive/reliable brands of luggage aren't easy to attack in this way. Certainly $10 luggage will have little to no security.

 

[medhead]

Straitman, my point is that any locks (TSA or otherwise) dont stop the zipper being opened and then reclosed again by using a pen or other pointed item to pierce the zip teeth.
Thats why I think the plastic wrap makes sense - you can see if the plastic is pierced that someone has tried to get into your bag.

And I think the other point that your missing is that a thief is not going to stuff around with a pen on the zip of a locked bag when there is an unlocked bag sitting there next to it. Undoing a zip in the normal way is even easier, hopefully I don't need a video link to demonstrate this fact. When you got 1000 bags going past you every hour a fair number will be without lock, why would anyone stuff around with the locked cases?

A lock services exactly the same purpose as the plastic wrap. It makes people thing twice. So what if it doesn't give a visual indication of tampering, it will still fulfill the deterent role. If people what to break the zip they will, having a visual indication that someone opened your case isn't going to help because your valuables will just as stolen. :shock: