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Comments (25)
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Save/ShareA TSA inspector at a small East Coast airport has contacted us with a tip. I am choosing not to identify her because, as a TSA employee, she is not supposed to talk to the press without official permission. Plus, TSA workers do not have whistleblower protections, which other federal workers have.
It's not necessary to buy the pricey, TSA-approved locks. You don't have to buy fancy luggage locks at all. Instead, buy a pack of plastic zip-ties, or cable locks, for about $1.
Here's what our tipster says:
I see hundreds of locks and zipper pulls get broken off as they go through the conveyor belts at airport security gates. The locks fall off and land under the conveyor belts.100 count bag of zip ties, at Amazon.com for $5. Also sold at local hardware and housewares stores, typically for $2 for 100 count bags.Most locks that people use are the kind you could pick with a bobbie pin or paper clip.
Zip ties (also called cable locks) are something that we use at the airport. They are long plastic ties that lock. They can't be opened unless cut with a scissor or nail clipper, which are allowed to be packed in a carry-on bag. The ends of the plastic ties fit through the zipper pull tabs. They come in all sorts of sizes.
Use zip ties for carry-on or checked luggage. We put them on for people after checking their bags if they want them locked. I did this for a guy traveling to India today. If we have to cut a lock we zip tie it afterwards at my airport.
The zip tie is something I use for International travel myself. TSA locks are useless in other countries. I have never had a bag opened and you know if your zip lock (in your choice of color) is still there it hasn't been messed with, unlike a lock...which you can't tell if it's been opened or not.
As an aside, I will say that out of 2000 bags today maybe 40 bags were opened. If they don't alarm the X-ray machine then the bag is cleared.
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If you don't have your checked bag locked is the tsa going to lock it for you? The last time I flew my bag was personally checked and I wasn't allowed to lock it. Does it depend on what airport you are at whether you can lock you bag or not? After the horror stories I have heard about missing items after reaching your destination I feel we should be allowed to lock our bags after they are searched.
Posted By Sharon Miller on May 9, 2008, 4:20 PM
How can we know that the TSA agent(s) will once again lock with a zip tie if they cut the original one?
Posted By jguffey on May 10, 2008, 6:23 PM
I've used zip ties for several years. I fly out of Oregon and I hand extra zip ties to the TSA inspectors and ask them to re-lock the bag if they need to open it. They've always re-locked the bag.
How do I know. I use one color when I lock it (yellow) and then hand the inspectors a different color (green).
Posted By Bob Strubing on May 11, 2008, 12:08 PM
Used the TSA locks but TSA swapped locks with someone else during an inspection got home could not open lock with out a hacksaw. Ty Wraps [in color] sound like the way to go.
Posted By KonaRoger on May 12, 2008, 1:35 PM
2 weeks ago I returned from Europe, and my airport of entry was Philadelphia. Because I had a connecting flight in the US, I had to put a bottle of duty-free liquor (a gift for a friend) In my checked bag before rechecking it. I placed it carefully between clothing and wrapped it well, then I put my tsa lock back on the bag. When I arrived at my destination 2 hours later, my bag came of the carousel dripping and soaked with no lock on it. I opened it to find a tsa inspection card, my lock, and the smashed bottle of liquor on the top of the bag with only the thin nylon zipped bag top covering it. I believe that the tsa inspector was willfully negligent and just plain nasty to do this to me.
Posted By NV on May 12, 2008, 2:05 PM
I've been using zip ties for quite a few years - never had any trouble and have had them replaced by security whenever my bags have been inspected whether I have given them spares or not.
I always carry a few extra in various colors and have often given them to other travelers who need to lock their bags
Posted By squire71 on May 12, 2008, 2:05 PM
Trouble with zip ties is that you do need to cut them off and you haven't always been able to have one in your carry-on. I've locked my bags for years with a heavy-duty twist tie. The ones on your bread bag are a little to flimsy, the ones that come on electronics work well.
Posted By katieC on May 12, 2008, 2:26 PM
I, too, have used heavy twist ties on suitcases for years. The few times my bags have been opened, they have put the twisties back on--not always as securely as I did but they have always stayed non-the-less.
Posted By Vivian Dennis on May 12, 2008, 2:57 PM
I use key rings, just the ring, putting thru zipper to zipper. Don't need to cut it to get it off, and just enough hassle to keep nosy baggage handlers out of my bags.
Posted By Tom Jonas on May 12, 2008, 3:05 PM
Last yr I flew out of local airport(medium size).
The inspector cut my tie's+then told me didnt have any to relock.Luckily I had extras on me.That's when I decided to buy TSA locks for next trip.
Posted By paba on May 12, 2008, 3:45 PM
I used to use ziplocks, but the last time I did (over a year ago) they had been cut off and not replaced???? What's a traveler to do?
Posted By JacquieB on May 12, 2008, 4:58 PM
Hi,
Thanks to everyone for taking the time to post comments.
The heavy-duty twist tie is also an interesting option--thanks for suggesting.--Thanks Katie!
This is a great tip (Thanks Bob!)
I use one color when I lock it (yellow) and then hand the inspectors a different color (green).
Tom's tip on using a key ring is inspired!
The TSA has the right to open any bag for inspection. There’s nothing we can do about it. But spending a lot of money on a fancy lock that won’t stop criminals may not be necessary… It depends on the traveler. Just offering a different suggestion.
Thanks also for the suggestion: Ty Wraps [in color] sound like one good, multi-colored option.
Thanks,
Sean
Blog editor
Posted By Sean on May 12, 2008, 5:58 PM
We have been using the zip ties for years and they work well. I leave a small nail clipper in an unused outside pocket of the checked case to have easy access when we reach our destination. I also take my combination locks to use on the luggage if we make a land stop for overnight and board a cruise ship the next day. I have several of the TSA locks, however, I have never used them because I fear they will be cut by some inexperienced agent.
Posted By Carol on May 12, 2008, 7:05 PM
Las Vegas McCarren airport was the culprit- lock and zipper pull gone from a suitcase. Learned a lesson and will try one of these other options. Always have liked cable ties! No fun suitcase shopping on the first day of your vacation.
Posted By Jackie on May 12, 2008, 7:32 PM
Ummmm.... but what's the point of locking using the zip-tie if anyone can just cut it?
Posted By Erwin on May 12, 2008, 7:33 PM
I've been using the TSA locks for a while now and haven't had a problem, except that the combo locks are quite big and sometimes get a little bent.
I like the ideas of the cable locks and the key ring...will try that in the future. But the note from the tipster that we are allowed to carry on scissors and nail clippers, is not necessarily true. I think some airport security still request that ALL sharp objects be packed. But I guess you can always use the scissors in the sewing kit found at the hotel - if you're staying at a hotel that provides amenities..!
Posted By Clare on May 12, 2008, 7:54 PM
I have had several instances lately where items have been stolen from my nylon zippered bags, I'm assuming from the zipper being stabbed with a pen and opened up. The zipper can then be "healed" by running the locked together zipper pulls around the bag. Does anyone have any solutions for this problem?
Posted By Lesley on May 12, 2008, 10:17 PM
my whole worry is, how can you guarantee that the airport baggage handlers or inspectors will put ANY kind of lock back on your luggage? Aren't they too busy with thousands of pieces of luggage to bother with locking my suitcase back up for me?
Posted By dina barton on May 13, 2008, 12:12 AM
The simplest solution of all is to not lock bags at all and not check bags. I haven't locked bags in years, since my locked bags in Miami and Detroit came off the carousel opened with the locks missing and the contents rifled. I'm sure it was an "honest" mistake when my bikini top revolved around at Houston Intercontinental. As onebag.com says, there are two kinds of bags, carryon and lost. So now I plan ahead, don't over pack and manage to carryon most of the time, even for international trips. If I can't cram enough toiletry liquids in the quart ziplock bag, I buy when I get there.
Posted By Patty K on May 13, 2008, 12:15 AM
No.... I don't question the right of TSA to open my bags....just wonder if I use twist ties how I can ensure they're 'tied' again with new ones after they've been cut.....my husband and I use "TSA approved" locks with the same four digit combo on all that we may be traveling with....so we can remind one another of the combo if one of us were to forget
Posted By Judy Guffey on May 13, 2008, 1:48 PM
Hi, Judy,
It sounds like the TSA approved locks are the best solution for you and your husband!
I think it depends on the traveler.
Thank you for sharing your tip with other readers!
Regards,
Sean
Blog editor
Posted By Sean on May 13, 2008, 1:48 PM
Wrap the tie through a couple of times and make sure you tuck the ends in, so the baggage handler doesn't get "poked".
It will also work on a daypack or purse.
Posted By Katie on May 13, 2008, 4:33 PM
I'll use the zip ties from now on. Before a trip to Europe bought several TSA locks...one was gone upon arrival, sheet inside said the bag had been checked. They're too pricey to keep replacing them.
Posted By Jo on May 14, 2008, 7:39 PM
I've used the zip ties for both domestic and international and so far haven't had any issues. I, too, use different colors. Learned my lesson a few years back when my new suitcase that had the kind of lock you lay the two zipper pulls in and they snap locked. Well, when I pulled my bag off the conveyer, there it was with the zippers destroyed, never to be used again. I could get new zipper pulls, but will not ever use that lock again!
And to answer the reply above: all the airports handle this differently. I believe it all depends on how good a day the TSA agent is having as to whether or not your bag is handled adequately.
Posted By Elaine on May 15, 2008, 2:27 PM
Zip ties are easy to open-just insert something like the tip of a pointed nail file in the outer opening and press enough to release the catch piece!
Posted By Thomas Crockett on May 16, 2008, 10:34 AM