Haven’t flown internationally in a very long time, so please indulge me with this question. Checked luggage may be locked with TSA-compliant locks, correct? What happens when luggage is screened in a foreign airport (Dublin) for a flight returning to the USA? Does airport security all over the world have the ability to open these locks, or will they be cut off?
Feel dumb asking, but would rather know than find out the hard way. Thanks
Yes, they have the ability to open the locks and there is a good chance it will be cut off.
Yes, they CAN open them, but often just cut them off.
^^i gave up paying extra dollars for TSA locks after the 3rd time in 3 trips that they cut them off - always at the US end - well beginning really- of a trip. I don’t even bother to lock my cases any more after the last time.
Any valuables should be carried on IMO. We don’t bother with locks.
Or you can buy the plastic ties. THey will cut those off too, but less expensive. If your luggage isn’t selected for inspection, you have to cut the ties off at the other end.
I use tie-wraps of some unusual color and carry a nail clipper in carry-on luggage to cut them off on arrival. A mild deterrent for theft.
We use TSA approved locks when traveling abroad and have never had a lock cut off. We are out of the country right now and had no issues with our locks.
Thanks to all. My main concern is that while I am overseas, the gov’t decides to implement that stupid “no electronics in the cabin bigger than a cell phone”,rule, and I am stuck placing my tablet and camera in checked luggage for the return trip back to Murica… Ugh.
We’ll be on a bus trip, so maybe we’ll leave them unlocked for the flight, but lock them when they are handled by trip personnel.
@Tankiko, TSA allows you to carry such a weapon as a nail clipper? SHOCKING (CC needs an official sarcasm font)
TSA rules allow nail clippers, but their ill-trained screeners permit them arbitrarily. Still, the zip tie approach is the best deterrent for theft from random handlers. The actual agents will cut them off (no great loss), but thieves are unlikely to do so. And if your ties remain on, but your nail clippers were confiscated, it’s not that difficult to find something sharp to cut the ties off with at your destination.
Obviously, you need the tiniest nail clipper that works by pressing down and not the one that looks like scissors that will be more readily confiscated.
Really a lock is not what I worry about, it is theft of the entire suitcase.
We just go back from an extended trip to France via England. After a huge effort to get our luggage at DFW as the port of entry and to put it back on the luggage belt (BTW we are very fast and it took 2 hours between flights) I would not count on any luggage being safe. They had 3 international flights on the same belt at the same time! We have had suitcases open by TSA multiple times or the equivalent as they leave a paper in it telling me so and we had a statue removed once. We never lock our luggage.
I only had an issue once I had to arm wrestle a little old lady with dementia who insisted my clearly marked and colored tags suitcase was hers. This was at the luggage belt as she was walking away.
I worried that I was going to have to put my computer in the luggage on the way back. I really don’t know what I will do in that case other than just bring an iPad. I always have brightly colored tags clearly marked on the luggage.
I just bought a luggage strap to go round mine on my trip home to england this week - mostly for a little extra security (not theft but zipper as my last flight they damaged a zipper somehow). It is a 2 way strap that goes length and width. My case is pretty distinctive as it is a bright teal green - the straps are purple and the color combo has me more excited than I should be.
Get the nail clippers to cut a baby’s nails and use colored small sized zip ties so you know your luggage has been opened by a gov’t agency or the curious.
You can also open with a paper clip by holding the tab down and sliding the end through the teeth
You just want the potential thief to find an easier target than yours and zip ties may get them to pause and move on…
I put a strip of lime green duct tape on the bottom and luggage tag to make it stand out.
Of course, I never check in luggage unless flying EU country to EU country.
I’ve made between 6 - 8 Asian and European trips per year since 2014. I rarely need to check bags at all. Careful planning and color coordinating means I can fit everything into a 20" suitcase and carefully packed purse/bag. I’m not a shopper or gift purchaser so don’t need space for items other than clothes, shoes, travel umbrella and similar paraphernalia, toiletries etc.
Totally agree with the concern for electronics. I’m in Asia right now. Typically, I travel with an Ipad, but this trip I’m making do with IPhone and hotel business center.
Side question… will laptops be ok for carry on for domestic flights? (Thinking about my vacation that starts on Friday, and I had planned to bring the work laptop).
Just figure the suitcase will be opened, so do not put anything valuable or you don’t want to lose in the suitcase. We have experienced suitcases being opened and damaged. So don’t put amything in your check on that can be easily damaged either.
Basically your check on suitcase is for clothes, shoes and cosmetics! If someone wants to take my underwear, go ahead. Good excuse to buy new!
Some TSA locks have indicators to show that the TSA key was used to open the lock. These can alert you to whether someone (TSA or otherwise) used a TSA key to open it, so you can check whether the contents have been tampered before going to customs.
Distinctive zip ties can also serve this function of showing evidence of tampering.
@colorado_mom, as of the moment, laptops are OK for domestic and most foreign flights. It’s just between some Middle Eastern countries and the US that the ban is in place.
My concern is that the rules can change without notice and I didn’t want to risk that coming home from Asia.
I was in the middle of a trip a number of years ago when the 3 oz rules were suddenly imposed. I remember standing in line behind a woman throwing away hundreds of dollars of very expensive cosmetics that were in larger size bottles. She didn’t have any checked bags and TSA was giving her no options. Confusion, irritation and anger!
Thanks @Momofadult. Too bad for the woman that encountered the new 3 oz rule.