[ArielBelle]

Can anybody give me an idea as to what or how they are doing regarding locking your luggage in the airports?? Somebody told me you cannot lock your luggage anymore and we should just put those white plastic ties on them instead.

[jmouse]

Somebody told me you cannot lock your luggage anymore and we should just put those white plastic ties on them instead.

TSA (Transportation Security Administration) suggests that you help prevent the need to break your locks by keeping your bag unlocked.

In some cases screeners will have to open your baggage as part of the screening process. If your bag is unlocked then TSA will simply open the bag and screen the bag. However if the bag is locked and TSA needs to open your bag then locks may have to be broken. You may keep your bag locked if you choose but TSA is not liable for damage caused to locked bags that must be opened for security purposes.

More Travel Tips

[pukapuhio]

all of the airports i've flown in and out of recently have the screening right out by the check in counters. when this is the case, then i unlock it before it goes through the scan, and then ask the person if i may lock it before they send it back to be loaded on the plane. they never have a problem with it and let me lock it.

[trishb]

Great question!

When we flew to Florida in January, we did not lock our luggage. I was concerned about the suitcases opening up, and contents flying everywhere...but this was not a problem. We just asked the person who took our luggage to put a security tag on them. When we got to our hotel we just had to cut them off.


Happy packing!

[MickeyMac]

DH's bag was locked, but opened when we flew in June. There was a note inside of the regulation. Nothing was touched, it seemed (who would want to??) We thought it was odd it was opened twice. We do curbside, there didn't appear to be any screening agent at all.

[ArielBelle]

Thanks for the replies. I think I will get those plastic thingies so they can be cut off and easily replaced if needed.

Trish, what do the security tags look like?

I was reading the TSA travel tips and they said NOT to check food items in luggage. I was going to pack a bag with just snack and cereal for the kids and then use it for souvieners on our return trip. Should I not do that? Why don't they want you to pack food items?

[dab]

We never lock ours but also don't pack anything of great value. Our suitcases have zippers so I don't worry that they'd pop open in rough handling. I've also seen in the JC Penney catalog some bands that wrap around the suitcase to prevent opening but don't have a lock. The plastic cable ties would be a lot cheaper though!

[mattomouseman]

:laugh I'm laughing 'cause I was getting ready to post a thread just like this!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the input!!!!!!!!!:)