| Author |  Topic  | |
jesone
10 Posts
Joined: 24 Aug 2007
Status: offline |  Posted - 09 May 2008 : 11:08:20  
| Hi, what is the current position on locking suitcases right now? Having had some extremely expensive gear stolen at Chicago O'Hare last year outbound on a photographic trip I'm keen to lock my case but I think this is still frowned upon.
JohnS |
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blott
 United Kingdom
23840 Posts
Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 09 May 2008 : 11:29:59
| It's the same situation. The US authorities require that you don't lock your cases or, if you do and they wish to see inside, they will break the locks.
You can get TSA approved padlocks to which they have master keys and they will lock them up for you after inspection. These are no good if you have the 'hard' type of suitcases with integral locks. Although you can buy luggage straps with TSA approved locks to go around your hard suticases.
Never, ever, put expensive equipment or belongings in your suitcases and always keep these in your hand luggage. In particular, anything with a battery in it or electronic equipment should be carried in your hand luggage.
We never lock our hard suitcases when travelling in either direction, to or from the US, and have never had a problem with anything disappearing and we've been through many, many different airports. This is probably because our suitcases only contain clothing and personal items which have no particular value to anyone else.
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blott
www.orlandovillas.com/villas/150.aspx
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ShirleyD
 United Kingdom
6472 Posts
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 09 May 2008 : 13:13:37
| | As Blott says never put anyhing very valuable in your case, locked or not. The single piece hand restriction has been lifted in the UK and is not a problem in the US. It is always possible to open any lock, so straps that take time to undo are more of a deterent. |
Shirley
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-850.aspx |
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Mo Green
 United Kingdom
1468 Posts
Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 09 May 2008 : 14:12:47
| We have now had 3 TSA approved locks taken off for case inspection and not put back on. We have now resorted to coloured plastic cable ties leaving a different colour inside. Home Depot sell packs of mixed bright colours.
Not only does this help identify our case but we can see immediately if it has been opened. No note from the USA authorities (who replace with white cable ties) and we know it has been tampered with. The only downside is you need scissors to open them the other end and of course you still can not carry scissors in your hand luggage.
Since adopting this method two years ago we have never had our cases opened but I still would not recommend putting anything of value in your case. Always carry it in your hand luggage.
Mo |
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-1267.aspx |
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SteveandJan
United Kingdom
1558 Posts
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 09 May 2008 : 16:49:34
| | When we came back from New York at Christmas, my cousin had her locked case broken into by homeland security and have the right to do so, so don't put anything valuable in your suitable as I am not sure about the insurance if you leave the case open |
SandJ
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-1138.aspx |
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shedenuk
United Kingdom
41 Posts
Joined: 28 Sep 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 09 May 2008 : 18:04:26
| When we came back from Florida in October two of our three cases had been opened. We had used TSA approved padlocks which they replaced. They also left a leaflet in our cases explaining why they had been opened.
We had belts round our cases and they had been removed and then tied onto case handles.
Contents of cases were not too messed up.
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Sheena |
Edited by - shedenuk on 09 May 2008 18:05:54 |
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Locking cases
