Let's talk locks

Yes, they'll cut them off your luggage. To me a lock isn't necessary because there's nothing in my checked bags I'd miss if stolen--and nothing has ever been stolen in over forty trips back and forth to Europe. My husband always chooses to use a TSA approved lock but has no valuables in his checked bag, either.

Pack light. Then you won't need to check, and you won't need a lock. No problem.

Yes they will cut them off of checked bags. They inspect a certain number of bags randomly. You have to ask yourself why you are putting locks on your luggage. If its to prevent thieves at the airport or the baggage crews, they can get into any bag they want anyway- just by cutting the bag or the zipper open. If you use locks to kept he bag shut, many people use those one-use nylon zip ties, twist ties, safety pins, or carabiners. You can cut them off later and replace easily enough. I don't use the TSA approved locks, because they add no security. Lots of people have the keys to fit. You just have to not pack anything valuable or non-replaceable in checked luggage.

We've never locked our bags and have never had a problem with anything stolen...not that we ever put anything of value in them. They can cut non-TSA approved locks off anyway if they see something on a scan that looks suspicious so we've never understood the point of having locks at all.

Well, I don't want any random person stealing my clothes, even if they are not worth much. It's a creepy sort of thought.

Thieves don't want your clothes. For the trouble it takes to steal them, they have almost no resale value. They want your wallet, your credit cards and your smartphone.

And they will steal your big bottles of shampoo & conditioner, and lotion. This happened to us countless times before we finally learned our lesson.

locks possibly don't assist much with security, but they may do 2 things, for a small outlay ( they aren't expensive on ebay etc) give you peace of mind ( if you are worried) and if you have to claim on travel insurance, you can say you did every thing reasonable in your power to make your items secure.
just a thought.

Wouldn't the presence of a lock on a piece of luggage point a thief towards that bag - the probability that it likely has more valuables?

I stopped using a lock the year I bought neat double cable locks for my SIL, brother and me. I saw them demo'd at a packing workshop. We were in our departure airport and my SIL tried to put something back in her bag but the lock jammed. We got to our layover in Seattle and all 3 of us tried to open it without success. We finally got the awesome folks at the Ex Officio store to cut the cable. We got to Dublin and my brother's jammed but the front desk clerk said it happened all the time and she cut it off in a jiffy. I was able to open mine so I took it off and immediately threw it away!!

We now all use carabiners to keep the zippers together and I also fasten a brightly colored luggage strap around my bag just to prevent it coming open and for easier ID when I ckeck it. Anything of value I put in my personal item even if I am carrying on.

Sandra,

If you intend to secure your luggage with a Padlock (rather than a Cable Tie or whatever), using the TSA-approved Locks is a good idea. If they decide to randomly search your luggage, the agents will be able to use a special key to open the Lock, and will hopefully re-lock it when they're finished. Some TSA padlocks have a small "flag" which changes colour if the lock is opened with the key, rather than the combination. If you use non-TSA locks and they decide to search your bag, they WILL cut the locks off.

Most of the small luggage locks are cheaply constructed and don't provide much security in terms of forcible attack. Despite the limitations, I always lock my checked bag and only once had a problem. I prefer to use a lock mostly to prevent "opportunistic theft" and to keep the bag closed during transit. On a flight from the U.K. to Ireland several years ago, the lock was cut off even though it was a TSA model. I'm assuming that agents in Europe may not all have access to the keys (or were too lazy to use them). They didn't close the zippers properly after the inspection, so consequently when I collected the bag off the carousel it was open. Fortunately I had everything well packed with internal cinch straps so nothing fell out.

As far as "spending money" for a TSA Lock, I wouldn't think that $8 would be a huge expense. Magellan's has a set of three TSA Locks for $13.

I've had my bag opened and inspected twice after I checked it, and in both cases a note was left on top telling me that it had been - thus the reason things were rather jumbled inside. The second time, I'd packed a 10" candle to take to a European friend who'd requested it, and I'm sure the dense, cylindrical shape raise a red flag during a scan.

Anyway, I appreciated the note as I would have wondered otherwise what the heck happened inside that bag! It's also reassuring to know, in these uncertain times, that they DO check when they see something concerning?

My husband's beat up old sweater didn't get put back into the suitcase during inspection at JFK. So he was forced to buy a beautiful new one when we arrived in Iceland. Wonderful souvenir of the trip. And his suitcase had a TSA lock.

We've always just used twist-ties to keep the zippers closed during transit the few times the TSA has opened our bags (and left a note) they've even retwisted the twist-ties when they were finished.

We have never locked our bags...and never had anything stolen, many many flights ...

Why would anyone risk their job for your clothes, unless maybe you wear designer wear, worth thousands,,.we dont.

I use locks (TSA approved). Why? In part to make it a little harder to access, even though someone that really wanted to get inside can. In part to keep the zippers from accidently opening. And in part because I keep my bags locked in the hotel room or in the hotel luggage storage when I might actually have something valuable inside (I'll keep a camera or iPad inside sometimes). So the locks are pretty cheap investments.

TSA will cut off a lock they can't get into if they want to see inside your bag. You can always use your old locks until that happens and then just get new ones TSA approved.

Thanks, Ken, re: the Magellan's site. You're right about $8 not being much. I am getting into cheapskate mode the closer I get to my trip! LOL

If the TSA doesn't cut them off some thief will. These things are worthless. Don't believe me? Do a YouTube search on how to remove them. Easy to do.

Just don't pack valuables. No one has ever bothered to steal my clothing

If I have to check a bag I don't bother with locks. I just make sure there is nothing in the bag of value except for clothes and toiletries.

When I carry-on, I use a cable key ring to keep the zippers secure because anyone who wants to rifle my bag in the overhead will be detered from the extra time it takes. I also use them on my "personal item" when I get up to stretch or visit the loo. My eye isn't off the bag long enough for anyone to get in and out. And for the time it is, the hassle of trying to undo the key ring and then secure it again is too long.

The time I do use a lock is on a train. I usually travel by myself so I have no one to look after the bag. When I have to use the loo, I will lock the bag and use a retractable lock to secure the bag to the overhead. For the short time I'm away, this should keep is safe since anyone trying the zipper trick with a locked bag would be noticed. I take my bag with my valuable stuff with me.

I also use the cable key rings to tie the zippers together if I have a backpack on. This will also deter a pickpocket since it takes too long to unscrew the cable.

Frank II, do you think the retractable lock approach is a good idea on something like the Heathrow Express?

We sometimes do use a retractable lock on the trains if our bags (not our carryons, which are always with us) are stowed at the front/back of the carriage.

On the HR express you are sitting on your bags or they are next to you and the time is very short. The only time I use a cable lock is when the bags are stored out of my sight (many times) or to secure to overhead rack.

I bring the TSA approved locks along but so far have not had the occasion to use them. When I check in the luggage, I don't use these locks. If you lock that checked in luggage with a TSA approved ones, I heard they have keys to open those locks. So why bother, since my checked in luggage ca. 30 lbs is going to be opened anyway. Sometimes they leave a slip of paper indicating they opened your luggage, which makes no difference to me.

If you do not want to spend extra on the TSA approved locks, leave the luggage unlocked until you arrive, then use safety pins, paper clips, or plastic twisters, all of which causes the thief to spend more time trying to crack your luggage. The zipper key holes can fit all three items, 3 safety pins and/or twisters.

Locks are really to keep honest folks honest -- or at least make it difficult for them to be dishonest by eliminating a "target of opportunity". A professional (or determined amature) will get your stuff anyway if it's valuable and wanted badly enough. If possible, just don't leave anything valuable in any unattended bag whether it's locked or not.

Our luggage set (if we are checking luggage) has a built in TSA approved locking mechanism. If we don't use those pieces of luggage we at least use TSA approved locks (we got them from the RS store). It is a small price to pay for a little piece of mind.

A regular lock would surely get cut off during inspection, I think.

Sandra L....to answer the question you directed towards me....no, the trip is only 15 minutes and your luggage is close at hand.

I have no idea whether this policy still exists, but a little over 20 years ago I traveled to Morocco. At some point I needed to use a left-luggage counter, probably at a bus station. I was told that each piece of checked luggage had to be locked. I was very glad I had a small padlock with me.

While I don't lock my checked bag as I don't keep anything of real value inside it, the notion that bags at airports don't get rifled through by dishonest airport workers is big stretch. There are a lot foolish travelers out there who do put cash, jewelry, and expensive toys inside their bags. For some workers it is worth their time to rummage through your underwear to get to these items. Do a YouTube search for "baggage handlers stealing", and you will see what goes on.

I use TSA approved locks on my checked luggage. I make no pretense that this is real security. It just makes it harder for a thief to get to my stuff.

I do not pack any valuables…..just clothes and toiletries. I do use a TSA lock and a zip tie. I have had locks cut off even though they are suppose to have an all purpose key to avoid this. I have received notes in my luggage stating my luggage was searched.

I treat locks as symbolic that do not protect any better than a cable tie. The locks and the luggage itself are easy to break. I assume a fair number of TSA general keys made it into the hands of thieves. I avoid to pack anything with resale value into my check-in luggage. Expensive designer luggage has resale value by itself, and suggests expensive designer content. At some airports, i.e. FRA Terminal 1B, there is no access control to the luggage pick-up area. But normally, passengers get there quicker than the luggage.

I just secure the ends of the bag's zipper pulls with twist ties, that way if they want to open they won't ruin my bag, and of course nothing of tremendous value is in my checked bag, anyway. The one time I used a TSA lock my bag was somehow damaged and the entire zipper was broken, lock long gone--I suspect it got caught in some mechanism but having to purchase a new suitcase in Tallinn cured me of ever locking my suitcase again.

I do use the locks for my suitcase and carry-on: when I'm out of my room, traveling by train or if I need to have the hotel store my luggage prior to check-in.

Thanks, folks! I appreciate your input.