We returned recently from San Francisco and Hawaii. Had a wonderful time. When we retrieved our luggage from JFK airport at the end of the trip, the combination lock was missing from one suitcase. I called first the airline, and then the airport to report it, and they were so matter-of-fact about it, saying it happens all the time due to luggage getting caught on the conveyor belts, etc. Well, if that were the case, there would be some indication of stress on the bag itself, and there was none.
I'd like to think it has something to do with increased security, and then I'd have no problem with it. It's a lot more troubling to think that, despite all the increased checks on airline employees, that there would still be vandalism and theft. I never keep valuables in checked baggage for just this reason, but this is the first time I personally encountered this. However after speaking to several friends, I discovered that this is not unusual. And, one friend who did have valuables in the luggage never saw the bag again!
Do others have similar experiences, and does anyone have any suggestions on how to handle this in the future?

Recently, after one suitcase was retrieved without the lock and tabs, I got green straps which I now use to keep the suitcases closed, and which helps identify the luggage more easily.

I use those plastic lock/ties and have never had a problem.

I have had my locks "removed" several times over the past 10 years. never did keep any valuables (even perfume!) in the checked baggage. Whether it is for "security purposes" or shopping purposes of the baggage handlers I cant say. It has happened to me leaving and returning to the NYC airports. I now usually carry an extra set of locks so if they get removed on the departing flight I can at least have another set on hand for them to "steal" on the return. Actually have had them removed less since 9/11 partially because they are asking US flyers to open bags for security before checking them.

I've lost track of the number of combination locks that have mysteriously disappeared from our luggage. From their location on the bags I find it difficult to believe that they are knocked off on conveyor belts. Like others, we never pack valuables.

My guess is that if someone could run a survey of the luggage brands most likely to lose their combination locks "on conveyor belts", the predominant brands would be Hartman, Tumi and and like, and wonder of wonders, those banged up garage sale bags would *never* lose a lock! gt;

I don't believe I am reading this thread! This just happened to me for the first time. We left JFK and arrived in Barcelona, only to find out that our 22" Tumi not only had the combo lock missing, but both zipper pulls. The joke was on the theives though because the suitcase was empty except for bubble wrap and some extra walking shoes. We always take an extra suitcase for purchases. We ended up having to fed ex the suitcase home so we could send it for repairs, and purchased another suitcase. Amazing.

My luggage was just ordinary Samsonite! I guess what I find extremely dismaying, is that no one at the airport seems to care or thinks anything of the possibility of someone rummaging through another's luggage! One would think that with stepped up security, this would be less likely to happen......

On our first visit from the uk to the states our airline snapped a lock on our brand new suitcase,it still had two other locks on it so we just bought a combination lock just to make the return journey.
we were waiting at baggage reclaim in England only to see my case (full of dirty laundry) gradually coming open, my husband dove on the convayer belt to rescue it before the contents spilled.
when we complained to the airline they managed to return our combination lock and a personlised luggage strap to us . they had been removed for "security reasons" funny thing was the combination had been removed without damage despite it being locked.

I'm wondering if locks for luggage will become a thing of the past. With the new screening guidelines for checked baggage, it seems that the bags will need to be checked when the electronic devices detect something "suspcious" in them.