luggage security in usa

[informashun]

is it a fact that any luggage emtering the states must not be locked?

if this is true how is innsurance affeted?

[mushroom25]

were you watching "holiday hit squad"? essentially you must take all reasonable steps to protect your belongings. conversely you must leave your bags unlocked otherwise US Homeland Security reserve the right to smash the lock off.

It is said that there's no cautionary tales of failed claims as yet. The industry awaits its first test-case.

[jno]

you can get approved locks; see here
http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,18409-1842557,00.html

[mushroom25]

having insurance companies specify types of lock on pain of invalidating cover would not be good.

[maxximus]

get a luggage lock and leave the keys from a different luggage lock attached to it, guaranteed no one will be bothered to open it.

[scubadiver]

Buy a TSA approved lock- they are about the same price as normal locks of this type and save any hassle.

[raysparx]

The last 3 visits we made to the states our luggage has been opened,wiyh a leaflet placed inside telling us it had been looked at,only on the return journey though,so we don't lock ours anymore.

[scoobydooby]

I have just returned from a trip to Florida where we locked all of our cases with combination locks. I made sure there was nothing valuable in our cases and thought 'oh well, if they open them there's nothing I can do'.

Pleased to report that no attempt was made to open my cases.

[SteveD]

Does anybody else get the impression that the US authorities are doing everything they can to discourage people from visiting their country?

[spudqueen]

If you do insist on locking your luggage then I would buy one of the approved locks but I went to the States three times last year and each time left it unlocked. On our return journey from Florida one of my sons cases was opened with a leaflet inside saying why it had been opened. If you do lock a case with a lock that customs cannot get into then they will smash your lock, or as stated above just slash the case open!

[vitobn]

Can anyone tell me where to find approved locks? I can't seem to find them on the above link.

[scubadiver]

try this link

www.travelwithcare.co.uk

They have them as well as other security ideas

[heathfield]

This problem featured last night on the Lifestyle TV travel show. The point about insurance was raised, and the advice was to contact your insurer to find out their company's policy on claims for luggage damaged by US customs. Or secure your baggage with those approved locks that US customs hold master keys for, as mentioned above.

[Bob A Job]

Having recently travelled through US customs/immigration several times i have seen many experiences of travellers. it all boils down to the illusion of security, they are doing everything possible to make people feel that they cannot be affected by terrorism whilst flying in the US. In reality the chances of someone going through your suitcase from the time you check it in to the time you take it from the belt, is virtually nil. dont bother puttin locks on, and dont worry about them being safe.

'Dont worry about the bad things that can happen in your life, they rarely do. The really bad things that happen are things you never could have expected, nor could have done anything about.'