Should You Lock Your Suitcase?
According to TSA, airline passengers filed almost 8,000 yearly claims against them for losing items like clothing, jewelry, electronics, and gifts.
Would it have helped to have your bag locked? Maybe not. Putting a lock on your suitcase isn’t a guarantee that your stuff will be safe.
Locks can be cut. Someone could slice through your soft-sided bag. Locks only discourage casual thieves, causing them to move on to easier targets. In reality, locks are only flimsy protection if someone is determined to get into your bag.
That’s why you should always keep any valuables with you in your carry-on bag.
What if your bag is locked and TSA needs to get into it?
The TSA has master keys that allow agents to open all TSA-approved locks, if they determine your bag needs extra screening. If you use a non-TSA lock, they’ll cut it off your bag.
If you are traveling internationally, keep in mind that not all security officers outside the U.S. have the same master keys. Your lock may have to be cut in that case.
You could just use zip ties to lock your bag. They’re cheap. If the TSA needs to cut the zip tie, it’s not a big deal to replace it next time. If the TSA doesn’t access your bag, you will need to have a small scissors or some other way to cut it off once you get to your destination.
Or, you could go to a service that wraps your bags in plastic, which makes them harder to break into, protects their exteriors from dings, and keeps them from getting dirty. Still, the TSA might determine they need to cut open the plastic and inspect your bag.