I will be traveling this summer to Peru and next summer to Holland. Many sites tout the use of TSA approved locks even if I only am taking carryon luggage. I know they work anywhere in the U.S. but what about in South America? And in Europe?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23609 posts
Only in the US. The have been report of them being cut off in Europe.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Semi-Answer: They're supposedly for checked baggage so TSA can snoop, not for carry-on since you're standing right there and they'll either open it or tell you to do so. Why bother to lock something that's going to be in your paws? They're supposedly to prevent pilfering by baggage handlers. A serious one will have a pocket knife, screwdriver, or set of dykes. A couple coming back with us from BA last year had TSA locks on their checked baggage. They were missing in Atlanta, but bolt-cuttered and tossed inside with the card that says 'you've been inspected by.....'. I've no idea of the purpose of the inspection or if the same procedure would by used throughout South America. Beats me about the Netherlands.
Posted by
Genesee, ID
1840 posts
We just use the little carabiners meant as key rings to keep the zipper pulls together. Some people have said they use zip lock plastic ties and cut them off when needed but that requires something to cut them with and then dispose of them in somebody else's landfill.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14655 posts
Since I wound up having to check carry-on returning home from Italy I was glad I had a lock attached to it. I have the kind with cable loops on either side of the lock so one stays attached to the handle and the other side goes thru the zipper tabs. I hadn't thought of the carabiners on the zips but will do that next time. (Monte you can do a demo on that at our next RS Meet-up!). BTW, the bag was fine for the Delta and KLM legs going over, but we left Florence on Alitalia and I had not keyed in on that leg being on Alitalia and had not done my due diligence on their carry-on sizes/weights so had to fumble at the checkin desk.
Posted by
Boston, MA, United States
1806 posts
Can tell you that on my trip last month flying KLM from US to Amsterdam, I did not bother putting the TSA approved lock on my checked bag as there was nothing inside I was really worried about being stolen by baggage handlers. When I got to Amsterdam and opened my bag, I did have the TSA "random inspection" card inside. Now on the way home from Amsterdam, I used the TSA lock as I had some gifts inside my checked bag. Lock was still on the bag when it came off the luggage belt. Now is that a guarantee it won't get cut off depending on who is working behind the scenes the day you are traveling? Nope. But we are talking about a lock that costs about $8 to $10. So if it does get cut off your bag so they can check inside, it's not like you are out a large sum of money. I do put a TSA approved lock on my carry-on bag, but only because I have been on too many flights were the overhead bins were totally full by the time I was called to board and the flight attendants were requiring gate-side check-ins on carry-ons.