Back in the good ol’ days I always locked my checked luggage. I liked knowing my luggage would not be opened without my permission.
It’s been several years since the rule was changed. It’s been so long I have no idea where my little Samsonite keys are.
A couple days ago I found out you are allowed to lock your checked luggage as long as you use certain locks approved by the TSA. I am aware of two companies that make approved locks: Travel Sentry and Safe Skies. Here is the Travel Sentry mark:
TSA personnel have codes or tools to unlock the locks. The idea is they see the mark, realize they can open it without breaking it, do their inspection, and lock it back up.
Has anybody used one of these locks? Did it work as advertised?
A point to note if you’re checking in luggage is that many of the travel accessories that are sold as luggage security items (locks, cable ties, security seals, etc) do not actually work to protect your luggage. You’d think for the money spent on these things it would take time to break into a bag, but it’s as simple as several seconds with a paperclip or even a pen. And people wonder why there is a problem with luggage theft.
the second link in your post seems to be down
TravelWallets,
Do you mean the Safe Skies link? I just tried it and it’s working for me. Try it again and let me know if not working.
Thanks,
Jeff