Until 5 or 6 years ago I used to lock luggage with an ordinary luggage lock. No problems.

Then the world changed and I stopped locking luggage figuring it would just attract attention and cause then to force the suitcase open.

Now I'm seeing TSA friendly/approved locks. I'm not quite sure how they work. I assume the TSA has a special way of opening and relocking the lock (?).

Does that mean inspectors in each European country also know how to do this. If this is how they work, it's not much of a secret. Do they have a special apparatus to open the locks?

Do you even bother?

By locking ours we just use those computer ties to 'lock' the zippers together. This has worked well for us.

My wife just was told by her hair dresser that she went to D.C. but stopped in Canada on the way. When she reached D.C., the birthday gifts she had in the suitcase were gone. I would lock it, if only with plastic straps and each time you pick up the bag, check if the strap has been cut. If it has, you should have a piece of paper with a number in your suitcase. If you don't, complain immediately even if nothing is missing.

They do have a special key to unlock the bags of those using that lock. But while this works most of the time, several times I have had my lock broken by inspectors who were either too lazy to unlock it or lacked the key. When that happened, I returned the lock to Brookstone where I bought it and was given a new lock. Not sure if all retail vendors have that policy.

No... and therefore, nothing of value is in teh bag, but I carry A HUGE carry one purse!

I use ordinary old-fashioned luggage locks, knowing they may be cut off.

Or plastic cable ties to secure the zippers.

On a recent trip, for lack of anything better on hand, I used pipe cleaners well-twisted together. Not very secure, I know, but at least they'd be a pain to untwist. Since they would probably be cut off for an inspection, I figured they were about as secure as cable ties.

Since 911 I have not locked my luggage. I do not put anything into my checkin luggage that would devastate me if it was stolen..and I have had a couple of items stolen while flying within the US. That didn't make me happy but not the end of the world.

I too wonder if European countries have the keys to the TSA approved locks. Anyway Myer, I just don't bother with it. A good idea or not I really don't know. Best regards.

I thought TSA locks were only good for travel within the U.S.

Can someone confirm?

I use the little plastic "locks" which are good for one time only (Bought them from the Rick Steves store). They're as easy to cut off as plastic ties, but they do show if your luggage has been opened. So far, mine never has been (Knock on wood).

I use TSA locks. Twice my suitcase was opened for inspection and locked again, a note was left inside.

Asked in Zurich on the way home, they've just waved me through.

Going to/from Israel, their security is the strictest in the world, put a TSA lock on, no notes, the lock looked intact.

I use a cheap TSA lock which requires a key, not a combination. Not so much for protection but to keep the zipper heads from sliding apart.

I always lock my luggage with TSA approved locks. I'd always rather have my suitcase locked than not, even if the TSA locks are easily picked. I've had my bags searched several times (the TSA leaves a note) and my suitcase was always locked afterwards. In Europe, they don't have the TSA issued keys and searches are either done in your presence or, rarely, your locks would be cut off.

I use wee little locking carabiners to secure the zippers on my checked bag. They take some fiddling to open, but are not a "lock" that requires a key. Apparently they are enough to discourage a would-be thief, because in many trips, both domestic and abroad, I've never had a problem with lost items. (Apart from the one occasion when the inspector apparently forgot to put the 'biner back on the zippers, so I lost it).

My husband has had his bag opened a few time and they left a printed notice. Nothing missing that he could tell. Once his inspector must have been a woman....

DH is the worst packer, tosses shirts in, they land somewhere in some sort of wad and he zips the bag closed.
At the hotel he opened it and everything was neat and orderly, shirts folded, stacked nicely.

I never lock anymore. I use twistie ties to keep the zippers from coming open while the baggage is being handled. I don't lock it in my hotel room either, in fact it's usually open. If anyone really wants anything that's in it, all they have to do is just roll it out of the room. I take nothing really valuable with me when I travel. I use the room safe if they have one, but also know that that's NOT foolproof either. Lets just say, so far, so good.

tsa is crazy. i don't lock, nor would i want a note in my bags if they are inspected. this whole thing is weird. seeing how they operate at US airports, i would rather just pretend they don't exist rather than try to buy locks that would meet with their approval.

LOL , wnab1q!

My niece had the opposite problem. She was unable to determine that her bag had been broken into because she belongs to the “wad everything up” school of packing. The only reason they could tell was the way with which the zipper had been tampered.

I always lock my luggage. My theory is maybe a lock will deter someone who's trying to steal something and maybe (s)he'll move on to an unlocked bag. (same theory for cars )

I have used the TSA locks since they first came out. However, this has only been for domestic travel. I'm going to use them for my upcoming trip to Europe; if they can cut off another type of lock, I guess they can cut these off, too, if they want to.

P.S. Combination locks are soooo much better for me. No more little keys to keep track of.

I don't lock at all and also use a beat-up floppy plastic bag that says: "Don't even bother looking inside me for valuables."

I also try to make my own person conform to this standard and so deflect muggings etc when I'm out and about in foreign parts.

So far, it has worked.

Harzer

I constantly had my bags inspected with the note left inside until I got the TSA combination locks so for the past few trips, they haven't been opened.