To lock or not to lock
 

I know this has been addressed before but I'm still undecided whether to lock our baggage for a flight to Paris.
What's the current concensus?

What does the "concurrent consensus" have to do with what you do?

I don't lock. I figure a thief can easily open the locks, and I have had my luggage randomly inspected once, so the lock would have been removed anyway.
Anything important or valuable goes in my carry on.

I use the plastic ties (usually used for tieing up wires) and slip them through the zippers. They have to be cut off. Anyone can cut them but at least I know that someone has been in my suitcase. It's no more and no less protection than a lock.

adrienne, that's a great tip

I usually use a luggage tag threaded through my zipper pulls and looped into a knot. It's no impossible to open, but takes time and effort- or nail scissors to open. I figure that if a bag is hard to open, the thieves will move on to the next bag.
I have had my luggage searched 5-6 in the past two years, but have never had anything stolen from them.

I've actually heard TSA recommend that you use the cable ties mentioned by adrienne. They will cut those if they need to, inspect, put a note that they inspected, and put their own ties on. That way you'll know if they are the ones that went in to your bag -- and you know that if there are no ties when you get it, inspect the bag NOW for missing items and file a claim right away.

And always keep the valuables as carry-on. Cameras, jewelry, prescriptions, etc.

We always use the plastic ties. Last trip I had to ask the lady at the counter when we were checking in as I could not find ours, they put them on for me. So far, they have never been removed or our luggage opened.
I carry a small nailclipper in the outside pocket of the large checked piece of luggage to open the ties.

Good point, Scarlett! If you DO use the ties, make sure you have something to open them with, as we can't carry anything useful in our carry-on luggage :)

On my last trip, I used the cable ties and packed nail clippers into an outside pocket of the suitcase. I know it seems silly to provide the thief with the means to open the bag, but it was one of the more obscure pockets and the clippers were tucked into the most difficult-to-access corner. I figured a thief would have to do a very thorough search to notice the clippers, but since I knew the location i could access them easily when needed.

On trip a few years ago I had used a combination lock made for luggage. I attached the lock after the security scan. When I got to my destination, I couldn't open the lock. Somehow in the quick work of attaching the lock, I'd reprogrammed the combination. Now it was 11PM. I had to wait til morning to take my bag to a locksmith to have the lock cut off.

Now I'm commited to cable ties. I think they provide just enough of hindrance to discourage most thieves.

I use ordinary twist ties, just to keep the zipper pulls from separating. I'm more worried about getting into my luggage myself than keeping the professional thieves out.

My theory is locks announce "I have something you might want"

I have never locked and never had any problems. However, I don't put anything in my checked luggage a thief wants. (Dirty undies aren't popular theft items!)

You've heard the old cliche "Locks were made for honest people"?

He had our luggage locked coming thru Milan airport from a cruise before 9/11. Somehow, the crooks manipulated the zipper from one of the ends, opened the suitcase, took what they wanted, and zipped it back up. We didn't notice anything until we got home when my wife asked me "Have you seen my panty hose?" I replied: "No, but what did you do with my cummerbunds"? ((b))

Whilst I'm sure that the airport staff involved with security do regularly open cases to inspect them, I'm more concerned about the baggage staff making off with some of my clothes. Whilst of couse I'm insured for theft, virtually all of my wardrobe is irreplaceable e.g. many pieces are from limited runs, and as such cannot simply be re-bought if they're lost.

Therefore, I see it as prudent to lock cases as a security measure.

I also use plastic cable ties. Started that a few years back. I keep a handful of them in a suitcase pocket. So far they have never been clipped or opened. I think regular twist ties would work similarly (to keep the zippers closed). I don't have anything of great monetary value in checked luggage.

What about the special TSA locks (that the security people can open w/o cutting them off)? Our luggage came with one of those for free and it's nearly impossible to accidently reset the combination (you need 3 hands to set it in the first place!). Has anyone used those and had them cut off anyway? I will be packing a Leatherman utility knife in my checked luggage and really don't want it stolen (although I could probably buy another one over in the UK but don't want to have to do that). If they want to steal my clothes, well I'm not taking anything else valuable and it would just give me an excuse to do a little clothes shopping on my vacation (which I wouldn't mind doing!).

We've been using the TSA locks since they began to be manufactured (don't keep valuables, but want to know who's been in the bags - this solves that problem. Plus, we like that the "window" changes color to indicate it's been correctly popped and relocked.)
BUT - just used them on spring break to Turks & Caicos, and I got paged after heading to the gate. Security wanted to look at something in my checked bag (a set of metal plaques that I should have realized would look odd on x-ray, and should have carried with me, probably.) And, (duh) their security is not "TSA"! They were nice enough to page me in their tiny airport, rather than just clipping my lock.
So, now I'm wondering: if we use these for the upcoming trip to London/Paris, will euro-security encounter the same problem? I'm thinking these are only good for domestic travel.
My husband has used those plastic thingies before - think we may go that route, also...

My2cents-the problem with the TSA locks is that they really only have keys to open them domestically, at US screening checkpoints, however, your luggage is subject to being inspected overseas at foreign baggage screening checkpoints as well-there is 100 percent baggage screening in effect for Europe. If there is something on the monitor that the baggage screeners can't resolve, they will open your bag, and may cut the locks to do so. The TSA locks are great in this country, but cable ties are preferable for overseas flights.

Thanks, Spygirl * Jo ann -- cable ties it is (with a little nail scissors and extra ties in the outside pocket).

We've used plastic ties for years--long before the drastic changes in security--and they have served us well. If the previous posters are placing the nail clippers in the bag for convenience fine, but I have been carrying my nail clipper(without file)in my purse and my husband in his pant's pocket without incident.

My bag was inspected last year (note to that effect was inside when I unpacked) and the ties were not replaced (thought they did this). My husband got two TSA locks for Christmas but we haven't used them yet, and, based on the previous post, maybe we won't. We've had such good luck with the plastic ties why change? As they say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."