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.