Luggage Locks
 

Returned from a trip last night minus another luggage lock...now down to 1 of the original 4 combination locks that came with our Tumi luggage, all others having been knocked (??) off checked bags on one trip or another. Can anyone recommend a relatively sturdy lock that will actually afford some modicum of protection for the contents of the bag? <BR> <BR>Is it paranoid to wonder if this is more than coincidence? This particular suitcase happened to have an empty purse inside and the interior straps which had been crossed tightly over the clothing to hold things in place, were no longer tight.

We've never had our locks disappear and we use the black, 4 number combo that you can buy at Bentley's. The one time I was a lock short of having enough for all of our luggage, sure enough, when the bag came out at baggage claim in Seattle, it was wrapped shut with that yellow plastic "ribbon" . It had been completely unzipped. It was my youngest son's suitcase and both pairs of his shoes were missing. Someone had to dig for them because I always put shoes at the bottom of the suitcase. American Airlines wrote us a check on the spot to replace the shoes, no questions asked. Hmmm, makes me think that's happened more than once.

Haven't lost a combination lock yet..but we do use brightly colored straps around each piece of luggage...and then knot the end.. The only time we didnt use it my luggage opened up at the airport in S.F....I was so embarassed, but nothing was missing.. We have been buying our locks from Brookstone. Frankly, if somebody wants to break into your suitcase they will.. On a cruise board somebody recommends sealing your luggage with tape..heavy tape, the type you'd use on boxes..

The combo locks sold thru Travelsmith are pretty sturdy.

AFter an epic 36 hour journey to get from Perth to Conestogo, Ontario in Canada I went to open my suitcases only to discover that one had no lock on the main zip and in fact both the zipper "handles" were torn off. I was quite distraught thinking that someone had broken into my suitcase. Nothing was missing but everything was all over the place (but to be expected in an almost empty suitcase). However, I found a Samsonite repairer who upon repairing the damage, advised that the suitcase had not been broken into, but the damage was caused by the luggage belts!!!! And that I was lucky that it was not worse!!!! Apparently it happens quite often. And it did to me because on the way home one of the other zips and locks broke. <BR>Now I think my tip would be that once packed, zip up the case so that the zip handles are near the suitcase handle and lock it there rather than at either end of the zip. <BR>Anne in Australia.

Parrot Mom has a good suggestion with the locks from Brookstone. They have some nice brushed metal ones that I think are $15 or $20 for a three pack. <BR> <BR>They are pretty sturdy for a small lock and have done well for three years of decent travel.

Sorry, but no luggage lock that attaches to zipper tabs is any protection at all. All it takes is a sharp twist with a tool -- either a bolt-cutter-type or a long spike inserted through the loop -- and the tabs are torn off. Tacky though they look, a collection of belts or tape wrapped around and around the case is a much better deterrent to predatory baggage handlers. <BR> <BR>I still use the luggage locks for when I leave luggage in a hotel room, again mostly as a deterrent, because anyone with access to the room is unlikely to do something as obvious as tear off a lock. <BR> <BR>Airline baggage handlers have no such hesitation, because they can always claim your luggage was mangled by the equipment or by someone else, never them. <BR> <BR>My wife claims that closing a double-zippered bag with the two zipper-heads meeting under the handle makes it harder for the lock to be torn off. She may be right, but I figure the best protection is using less expensive-looking luggage and duct-tape. Looks fierce, but I'm never ripped off.

FYI: Have a friend who used to work as a baggage handler at Gatwick, and he has some serious frightening stories--handlers urinating on luggage, rooting through bags for suntan lotion, then squirting it all over the contents. My friend quit because it bothered him so much, what these other handlers were doing. <BR> <BR>That said, I still check my bags, and haven't had any problems. Of course, I still eat hot dogs, too. Guess I'll keep my head in the sand.

Once a year, I travel through a particular regional airport on business. I had checked my roll-aboard suitcase for convenience, and luckily, I locked it as usual. When I got it back, BOTH of the little flap zipper pockets had been opened, and my $3.99 travel alarm clock was gone. Minor inconvenience. <BR> <BR>However, my husband and I went through this airport on a vacation trip, and when we got his duffel bag back from the baggage claim, it had obviously been dug through quite thoroughly. (They didn't take anything from him; all he had was beach clothes and some old sandals!) <BR> <BR>Moral of my story: I now lock ALL of my bags religiously, especially when I am going to this particular place...

Did anyone see the recent feature on one of those "20/20" type television shows in which hidden cameras showed baggage handlers opening luggage and going through the contents? This was shown occurring at several airports and at many places during the process, including the handlers loading the plane. One guy was actually opening every bag that he handled and searching the contents. It even showed how the handlers carry an assortment of keys to fit the key-type locks. After watching that I switched to the better combination locks, but I am still concerned, especially with the side pockets on luggage. I suppose the best thing would be to wrap a belt-type material around suitcase or tape with duct-tape. Perhaps it would be better to go back to the old-style hard luggage with no side pockets, wrapped with a belt or tape. These pieces are so heavy and hard to manage though! I will be interested to hear other travelers thoughts on this.

This thread has cleared up a mystery for me and revealed what may be a good tip. On several recent trips I saw bags coming onto the baggage pickup carousel that had been wrapped with stretchy clear plastic. I intially thought it was due to a problem with the zipper (i.e. a bag that had a tendency to pop open) but noticed several bags of different types belonging to unrelated parties, all of which were wrapped in this way. The stretchy film is readily availabel for $5-6 per roll at U-Haul including the disposable handle that one uses to wrap it. I frequently use it when moving to reinforce boxes but it would be ideal for securing a suitcase. Not only would the person trying to gain unauthorized entry be forced to cut through and unwrap layers of plastic to gain access, it would be immediately evident from a distance that tampering had occurred.

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I often use a plastic "cable tie" to hold the zippers closed on my luggage, using a brightly colored cable tie (usually they're black or tan). Cable Ties are as strong as any lock (police use them as "handcuffs"), and if the cable tie is cut off, I immediately know the luggage was pilfered. <BR> <BR>The downside is, Cable Ties have to be cut off before you can get into your own luggage. I use my swiss army knife for this (nail clipper also works). Just don't pack the kniefe or nail clipper inide the locked luggage!

This might be a stupid question but in all my years of travels my luggage has never been tampered with. I never pack anything of any value in the checked on luggage and I think to lock it or tape it or belt it shut would only call attention to my suitcase if someone was looking for one to inspect and take from. Am I crazy?