Locked or unlocked luggage?
 

I always use the TSA-approved locks when I fly domestic. However, I will be leaving for Italy in a couple of months and wonder what most travelers do when they fly international.

FWIW, we always use the TSA locks both domestically and internationally. So far no one has tried to open them... nor taken any issue with the fact that they're there (unlike my old, pre-TSA locks which I was told on more than one occasion could be cut off).

Hi M,

We put cable ties on the zippers.

Foreign security personnel are far less likely to bother trying to open TSA locks than those at home.

You can always put your locks on after you retrieve your luggage.

((I))

Another vote for cable ties - doesn't stop people getting into the luggage but you know if they have.

Since the episode with te Australian woman going to Thailand a lot of people have been using cable wraps

I never bother locking my luggage at all, and I've never lost anything.

I don't ever lock my luggage. I use the little twist ties to keep the zippers from opening but that's it. I don't lock it in the hotel room either. If someone wants it all they have to do is cut it or just roll it out the door. At the same time, I keep what little jewelry I take and anything else truly important in my purse.

I have never locked a suitcase and have never had anything stolen from one.
My mother swears by the twist ties.

I always lock with a TSA lock.

Don't lock it & don't check it.

The one time I locked my luggage was the when I had packed things of value. Of course, all of my treasures, including my new camera and extra lenses were gone when I opened my bag. Locks still tightly closed, of course.

If a crooked baggage handler wants your stuff from checked luggage, he can get through those Mickey Mouse locks with no trouble. I just use the cable ties now.

I consider locks worse than useless, serving only as a signal to the baggage crooks that you have goodies inside.

:-(

One question: If you use the cable ties, how do you open them when you want to open your luggage. They don't allow you to take scissors, knives, etc. on the plane so what do you use?

You put clippers or small scissors in an outer zippered pocket of your checked suitcase.

Hi jr,

You can now take small knives and scissors onboard.

Nail clipper also works.

((I))

Or use a pen/pencil - insert it into the loop (you have to leave enoug room) and twist it round and round until it breaks

Wombat - that's usually what happens - I insert a pen or pencil and twist it (the pen) until it (the pen) breaks.

Clippers in the outside pocket of the checked luggage is a good idea.

Haveb't broken a pen yet - but you wait I bet it'll happne on my trip this weekend

I always have nail clippers in my handbag, so that is what I'd use.

I always use only carry on sized bags - but still use a cable tie in case I have to gate check.

I use either plastic cable ties or regular wire twist ties on the zippers.

I don't see the point of using any kind of lock if/when they can/will open it anyways.

Cable ties work for me. I've learned from experience in the past few years to spread out clumps of things in my luggage, such as paperback books (to Europe) and chocolate (from Europe). Before I read about doing this, my bags were opened every time; since I've learned to distribute dense items, they haven't been opened.

I never lock mine either. A few times I have taped the zipper tabs together with a couple of inches Delta baggage tape.

I never lock my luggage either. The only thing I ever check are clothes, toiletries, maybe some books and maps. Nothing of value except to me.

I don't travel with pricey or status luggage either - and I've never had a "lost" or "misplaced" bag. Sometimes I wonder if a noticable bag all locked up gives the wrong message - and if there is any correlation with "lost" bags and outside appearance of bag.

Ditto on "nothing of value except to me" and it shows :-)

I don't put anything a thief would be looking for in my luggage, because I believe there is no way to keep a thief out if he, or she, has the time and determination. If you have great locks, they'll just cut the bag.

So all I'm worried about is my bag accidentally coming open while the luggage handlers are kicking it around, or whatever they do, and so my wife uses twist ties, while I tie the zipper pulls together with a shoelace.

We always lock our suitcases, going and coming, but there's never anything in them that would be valuable to anyone else--just clothing and a guidebook.

Just returned from a trip to Europe, flying all over the place on various foreign airlines and staying in numerous hotels. We NEVER locked the luggage and had no problems whatsoever. Of course, we each had a moneybelt and also a small Rick Steves day pack for the camera and anything considered of value. However, we did leave gifts we purchased inside the suitcases. Just don't take anything on the trip that is unnecessary - like jewelry.

I've never seen a suitcase lock made that can't be broken into in just a few seconds. But we do "lock" ours with carabiner clips so they don't come unzipped accidently. Suitcases do open by accident, so it doesn't hurt to lock or secure them somehow.