Checked luggage on airlines - to lock or not to lock?
 

Just finished reading an article in today's Wall Street Journal re locking or not locking luggage in today's airport environment, since there have been no strong directives one way or the other. They suggested using colored cable ties that you can buy at hardware stores to secure the luggage, and as a little bit of deterrent to break-ins. They mentioned in the article that you then don't have to search around for the key to open, as the ties are just cut off. This seems to be a good idea, but how do you cut off the ties after arrival, since you don't dare carry a knife or scissors in your purse or carry-on! Does anyone have any ideas on this, or have used ties for this purpose?

I use soft-sided luggage with zipper closings and have been using the wire/paper ties from our grocery stores for several years. So far no "invasion" -- but the sense I am geeting is that not so nice people are using 9/11 as an excuse to rifle our checked luggage. So anything valuable would be with me -- where at least any pawing through is in front of me.

<BR>I've been using wire ties for years, and still do. Now I use nail clippers instead of a knife to cut them off.

that's kind of a funny suggestion, why don't you write their editor and ask them! I only use those little padlocks with keys you can buy (Pilot, etc.) and I do use wire twisties on a few of the extraneous pockets where I don't have anything valuable, just to make sure the zipper doesn't come down in transit. I guess you'd have to buy a knife or scissors upon arrival at the airport, which you probably could. But I don't quite understand how something easily cut can be a deterrent. I'm sure you can break those little locks, also, but I figure it's somewhat of a deterrent as a thief will go for the easiest, least obvious target and breaking a lock will take some time. But cutting plastic ties takes no trouble or time. Why do you think that's a good idea? Maybe I'm not understanding what they are.

I use the small travel locks. Why? I really don't know because I am sure they will not stop anyone. Remember, locks only keep out honest people.

If you have a bag with a large compartment for your clothes and then perhaps a small compartment in the side, put a small pair of finger nail clippers in the small compartment and don't tie just that one compartment. Then you can simply reach into the untied pocket, and clip off the ties when you reach your destination.

The little luggage padlocks are useless. After having the old coffee grinder I bought at a Paris flea market stolen from my suitcase on my last trip, I made sure to lock my suitcase and my daughter's on our trip in March. Both locks were gone when we got our bags in Paris.

Though luggage locks and cable ties won't stop a determined thief, if they are gone when you pick up your bag, you will know to inspect the contents and make a claim, if necessary, before leaving the airport. <BR>Whether locks are a bit of a deterrent or a sign to thieves that there's valuable stuff inside is another question. Does anyone have solid evidence either way?

about 8 years ago my luggage travelled from Italy to Chicago on its own (I abandoned the flight in London, bad scenario, bad airline (ATA)...) in any case, my luggage was delivered to my US address, in tact, the lock didn't look to have been toiled with, but nonetheless the sicilian lemons (illegal importation to the US) had somehow, mysteriouslly disappeared.

One time when my luggage flew from Europe to the USA on its own (airline error), it arrived the day after I did with a sweet little note inside from US Customs letting me know they'd opened and inspected the bag in my absence. My little combination lock was locked, so obviously they'd opened it and relocked it. That's probably similar to what happened to Amalia's lemons. And it shows you how effective those locks are.

On our last trip to Italy, November 2001, the locks on both of our suitcases were broken and put inside of the suitcases. They were those small combination locks. Nothing was missing, and we are not sure if it was done by security or would-be thieves. It just reinforced why we never take expensive items or clothes on trips.