Question on TSA locks

[WinniWoman]

So we generally never check luggage, but we do use combination locks on our carryons. Once or twice the carryons were required to be checked at the gate. No issues with our own locks being on them.

Anyway, our neighbor lent us luggage with TSA locks on them. (one for a carry on and one to be checked)

We couldn't open them so my husband went on line to look up the luggage brand and how to unlock them, which he did successfully. Then he reset the combination to one we would use.

I don't get it. If anyone can just look up how to unlock these combinations, how are they theft proof? I am wondering if we should still add our own combination lock to our checked bag?

 

[dioxide45]

Luggage locks are useless. It might make you feel better but it won’t prevent theft.

 

[tombanjo]

No luggage is "Theft proof", it is only to keep honest people honest. Thieves walk away from baggage claim with the whole suitcase if they want to.

The TSA employees or baggage handlers who steal are not going to be deterred by a lock.

Don't lock it, just don't put expensive things in checked luggage. TSA will open your bag one way or another (hammer and chisel if needed, Sawzall, etc) if they want to look inside and you have locked it in a way they cannot easily open. You get your slashed open bag back with a note that you should not have locked it.

 

[youppi]

Look at this video

 

[WinniWoman]

Thanks. Well I guess then we will just use that TSA lock on the checked suitcase.

I hotels we have never used the room safes. Is there a charge for that do you know?

 

[pittle]

No charge for room safes. I always use those as I keep my passport, credit cards, and cash in it. When I go out and about, I only take one credit card with me and however much money I plan to spend in a day. Those can fit in the front pocket of my shorts or jeans. I use my ATM card to get more cash when needed and then keep it and the cash in the safe.

I have never used a lock on my luggage, but do not check luggage since the one time mine got lost and did not get it back for 2 days. When I did check luggage, I used zip-ties, but then had to carry cuticle scissors in my carry-on. I bought a new roller bag this summer and it has the TSA lock, so I will try it when I go to Puerto Vallarta in November.

 

[stmartinfan]

We've checked bags many times without locks and have never had anything stolen—but I've never had anything of real value in them. Who would want my far from expensive clothes? We have had a couple of times when the bag had been opened and checked, apparently after being xrayed, because there was a note in the bag telling us that.

I do throw my small bag of jewelry in my carryon, not because it's that valuable, but because it's the sort of item a thief might grab to check out later in hopes that there was enough gold to make it worth stealing.

We use hotel safes often and have never seen one that charges a fee.

 

[clifffaith]

We bought TSA approved combination padlocks from a travel store. TSA cut those right off and left the ruined lock in the luggage. Replaced them, this time keeping the receipt for free replacement if TSA cut them off again. So far no problem.

 

[DaveNV]

Suitcase locks are generally more trouble than they’re worth. As stated above, they keep honest people honest. I keep anything of value in my carryon.

Dave

 

[Cornell]

I would never put a lock on any bag.

 

[Tia]

One year I put a small zip tie on checked luggage with replacements in the top outer zipper area

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Locks are useless. Simple. Don't bring jewelry or anything of value that is irreplaceable. Put passport, laptop, cash, RX in unlocked personal bag or backpack that stays with you when not in hotel safe. Never had a problem in 30 years of international amd domestic travel.

If carryon or checked stolen or lost who cares? Europe has clothing stores too. File a claim with airline and credit card company for reimbursement

 

[PcflEZFlng]

I would also never put a lock on a bag, especially if checking it. For my backpack carryon, I use carabiners to tie the zippers together to deter pickpockets. It would take enough effort for them to open it up that I'd notice it, especially since I keep my head on a swivel. Plus I carry all things of real value (passport, wallet, phone) in zippered pockets of my cross-body front pack.

 

[GrayFal]

Mary Ann, I went on an organized tour once where you left your luggage in the hall in the morning to be picked up and you got it back in the evening at your next stop. The company required that each bag be locked so that people could not accuse their employees of theft. Plus the bags were left unattended when you left your room for breakfast so it just added another sense of security to prevent casual “browsing” by anyone who passes by in the hall before pick up.

Check with the tour company if this is required - I agree with others about the airport, determined thieves will not be stopped by a lock.

edit, as long as your combo locks are TSA approved you can use them for the airport/plane, otherwise you can not.

 

[linsj]

I always lock my checked luggage as a deterrent outside the airport. A couple of times my first plane was late arriving, I had to run to make the connection, and my luggage didn't make it so it was delivered later. Many times I've checked luggage with the bell desk before and after checking into a hotel or timeshare. Is it foolproof? Probably not. But I feel better.

 

[PigsDad]

The main reason I use a lock is to keep the zipper closed, as it can work its way open sometimes when being handled by the airport gorillas (bonus points if you know that reference!). I've never considered a luggage lock as something that will prevent theft since they can all be easily cut open if someone was determined to do so.

Kurt

 

[pedro47]

TSA Locks are for honest travelers; bad guys looks at TSA locks and just smile. IMHO.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Locks may also be a tell there is something valuable inside.

 

[ScoopKona]

Locks may also be a tell there is something valuable inside.

^ This.

Same with security cameras (when they first came out -- now enough people have them that they no longer scream, "This house has valuables and this camera system is easily defeated.")

In general, "don't pack anything worth stealing" is good advice. Sometimes its unavoidable. We just flew with an uncomfortable amount of GBP, Euro, and Taiwanese Dollars because there was no better way of moving it. Just tossed the backpack full of cash on the conveyor and answered the inevitable TSA questions.
"We're moving. No, we're not moving to the UK. We bought this just after Brexit and we've been traveling on it for nearly 10 years. Etc. etc. etc."

 

[PcflEZFlng]

The main reason I use a lock is to keep the zipper closed, as it can work its way open sometimes when being handled by the airport gorillas (bonus points if you know that reference!). I've never considered a luggage lock as something that will prevent theft since they can all be easily cut open if someone was determined to do so.

Kurt

Very good point (and yeah, I remember the commercials, they were great ). Even the carryon zippers can work their way open. But for either one, carabiners also work to keep them closed.

 

[Snazzylass]

Mary Ann, I went on an organized tour once where you left your luggage in the hall in the morning to be picked up and you got it back in the evening at your next stop. The company required that each bag be locked so that people could not accuse their employees of theft. Plus the bags were left unattended when you left your room for breakfast so it just added another sense of security to prevent casual “browsing” by anyone who passes by in the hall before pick up.

Check with the tour company if this is required - I agree with others about the airport, determined thieves will not be stopped by a lock.

edit, as long as your combo locks are TSA approved you can use them for the airport/plane, otherwise you can not.

Interesting. My tour last year never said anything about that. And there was a couple who had been on a Rick Steves tour - again, no mention.

 

[Snazzylass]

One year I put a small zip tie on checked luggage with replacements in the top outer zipper area

I've been using zipties on checked bags for years. Easy for TSA to cut off if needed and it gives me extra peace of mind. Maybe 40 years ago, I think I lost my hairdryer and hair products (Tragic!). I don't know if my suitcase came unzipped and they fell out? Odd because before that, I traveled for business regularly.

Of course, I wouldn't check a bag to Europe and I'd still use an AirTag in my carryon.

 

[Snazzylass]

Thanks. Well I guess then we will just use that TSA lock on the checked suitcase.

I hotels we have never used the room safes. Is there a charge for that do you know?

If hubs was able to reprogram the locks, he won't have any problem using the room safe. I've heard of people putting a shoe in their or something so they don't forget to empty it before they check out.