TSA Locks

Do any of you bother with these? We finally got round to buying some for our last trip (usually don't bother with any locks at all) only to find when we collected our bags at LHR that our bags had been searched and they had kept the locks and also hadn't zipped the bags up properly so - joy of joys, my bright red underwear was hanging out through the zip

Is this a common occurrence or not i.e. should I buy new locks or simply not bother again?

Inetrestingly I am not aware of our bags having been searched before so I wonder if the presence of the locks makes them more likely to want to search your bags?

Mrs NH's bag was secured with TSA combi lock on route back from New Orleans. We found lock missing, and slip of paper inside from TSA saying it at been searched. We thought lock had gone missing, but latter appearred loose in the bottom of the case once emptied.
If it has been searched you should find a TSA acknowledgement slip inside case?

I always use TSA locks wherever I travel. I have had my bag opened and found a note inside but my case had been relocked.

I always use them and have had my bags searched numerous times, but they've always been re-locked and always a slip from the TSA .

when i travel to the US i usually tie a ribbon through the zip. as this is not as expensive as a lock and does the same job. when i have had my case searched in the past a note was placed inside from the TSA, all my belongings were folded (including my dirty washing) and the case re-tied.

Where do you get the TSA locks from?

And I have never had a Love letter from the TSA placed in my bag... but then I dont lock my bags...

M

It is a rule that if they search your bag they have to put a card in giving the date / time and operator idf code - at least that has been on the cards when my bag(s) have been checked in the past. There is also a hologram seal added to the luggage tag too.

So no search = no love note !

You can get a TSA approved lock (i.e. one they will have the key for) from most shops - they will have a red triangle on them.

In that case I suspect that our cases must have been opened on the CUN-MIA flight sector rather than the MIA-LHR as we presumed as we had no "love letters" and no hologrammed stickers on our labels. I guess that they can't access TSA locks in Mexico then.

Thanks all.

[Darren Wheeler]

I guess that they can't access TSA locks in Mexico then.

Thanks all.

Probably not, at least with the special keys. They'll just use the Universal Key...

We always use tie wraps and put a spare on top of the clothes for them to re-secure. We have at least one case opened everytime we come back from the USA.

[Scrooge]

We have our bags searched by the TSA around 50% of the time.
I gave up on the TSA locks, everyone and their brother has the master key now, I just use zip ties and leave a couple sitting on top with a nice note asking the TSA person to reseal the bag after they are done.

The TSA don't need the key to get into any bag - they have managed to get into my hard shell Samsonite suitcase with a combination lock on many times. I'd say a note has been left about 80% of the time the case has been searched.

[honey lamb]

The TSA don't need the key to get into any bag - they have managed to get into my hard shell Samsonite suitcase with a combination lock on many times. I'd say a note has been left about 80% of the time the case has been searched.

Yup! They did the same to me and broke the lock. v( Fortunately the case was still under warranty and Samsonite replaced it free of charge

The TSA don't need the key to get into any bag - they have managed to get into my hard shell Samsonite suitcase with a combination lock on many times. I'd say a note has been left about 80% of the time the case has been searched.

Yup! They did the same to me and broke the lock. v( Fortunately the case was still under warranty and Samsonite replaced it free of charge

The reason TSA locks are fitted is to avoid having your case damaged or ordinary lock cut off in the first place. ii)

[Darren Wheeler]

The TSA don't need the key to get into any bag - they have managed to get into my hard shell Samsonite suitcase with a combination lock on many times. I'd say a note has been left about 80% of the time the case has been searched.

Yup! They did the same to me and broke the lock. v( Fortunately the case was still under warranty and Samsonite replaced it free of charge

The reason TSA locks are fitted is to avoid having your case damaged or ordinary lock cut off in the first place. ii)

Fitting a TSA lock and using it doesn't guarantee it not being cut off.

I've been to US a lot and never had my bag searched (that I know of). The case has 3 locking positions and not TSA approved. So far it has always come through intact and unopened.

We have our bags searched by the TSA around 50% of the time.
I gave up on the TSA locks, everyone and their brother has the master key now, I just use zip ties and leave a couple sitting on top with a nice note asking the TSA person to reseal the bag after they are done.

Likewise, I never lock my bags when returning from the US nowadays, or travelling within the US. If someone wants to nick my dirty knickers, that's up to them. Anything valuable I carry in hand baggage.