I saw that there are luggage locks that are approved by the US Tranportation Safety Admin (TSA). These locks can supposedly be opened and relocked without having them cut off by the TSA agents. Has anyone used them in Europe? As a first time traveler to Europe I'm curious as to how customs officials inspect luggage coming in and going out of the country (I'm going to Budapest and Prague). Thanks for any information.

here is the long discussion

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34613002

Hi KE,

To make a long story short, buy a pack of cable ties at the local hardware and put them on your zippers.

After you have cleared Customs in Europe, put locks on your luggage.

Upon returning to the US, put the cable ties back on.

Security agents in Europe don't have TSA keys.

We were all over Europe last month, and I used TSA locks on my suitcases. It was only before we boarded in London that I was asked to open up the bags for an inspection.

Hi KathyErdo, I have just given up locking my luggage. Anything important goes in my carryon bag.

I figure if someone want to steal my clothes I will just replace them. Hopefully they will leave one outfit that I can wear to go clothes shopping, LOL.

Not only do they not have TSA lock keys, the security precautions within Europe seem to vary widely. I think Ira and LoveItaly both gave you excellent advice to be honest about it.

Cable ties are great. The only problem I have had is when I needed to get in the bag for a minute and couldn't find something sharp enough to get through the tie. Someone told me the other day to use wire twistie ties (the ones that come with the trash bags) instead. The only thing either method does it to make sure the zippers don't open. Security is no longer an issue, if someone wants in, they get it.

>Cable ties are great. The only problem I have had is when I needed to get in the bag for a minute and couldn't find something sharp enough to get through the tie. <

They allow nail clippers in carryon luggage.

They work.

Thanks for the advice. I just so happen to have cable ties (although I call them zip ties). I just didn't want anyone running off with my undies.

I have used the twist ties that come with garbage bags for the last couple of years. I twist them on a certain way and know no one has been in my luggage but then again only my clothes are in the suitcase, anything important is in my carryon.

KathyErdo, we don't want your undies...

We have been using cable ties since 9/11. I just put a nail clipper in the outside small pocket of our checked luggage - have had no problem so far.

However, this last Euro trip, someone (after we checked in our luggage in Paris and before we picked it up at SFO) put a lock on our luggage that had the "fois gras". Fortunately, we didn't have to open it up, altho custom checked it through xray machines. One of the custom guys didn't know what fois gras is and almost had us open the locked luggage but saved by another custom guy who asked us "liver spread???"

LOL Baby2, this reminds me, crossing the Canadian border I had to explain what a muffin is So my carry-on didn't get trashed

The cable ties worked well for us. They're very inexpensive too.

... and while you can pack nail clippers in an outside pocket of your luggage, be certain the clippers don't have the nailfile attachment, which often get tossed as "a weapon."