Locks on cases

[smurfchops]

Should I put locks on my cases when travelling to LA? Last time I flew long haul the locks wouldn't open when I arrived home, we wondered if they had been tampered with, however nothing had been taken out of cases.

[sddsddean]

A lot of people I know now use cable ties. If you leave a couple of spare ones in your case, customs will quite often re seal your bag. Use different colour ties so you know if someone else has opened your case...customs will always leave a note saying its been opened.

[dzug]

It's not customs who search them (though they may as well) - it's US security. It is recommended that you do NOT lock your case when travelling to the US - or if you do get a TSA approved one. They will break open anything they cannot bypass

[joannie10]

myself and 4 friends went to america last year - when we arrived back in glasgow one of the girls cases had been opened (padlocks removed). In the end nothing had been stolen or planted in the case but we were feeling that surely there could have been a printed leaflet or something in it saying 'opened by customs'.

[spudqueen]

My family has been to Florida twice and each time one case was opened on the way home - and there was a leaflet inside each time explaining that it had been opened.

[Andyvon]

Most suitcases can be opened quite simply by pressing a ballpoint pen into the zip to open the teeth, regardless of any padlock. The zip can then be undone and closed again without any sign that the case has been opened. It takes just a few seconds to search a locked case and close it again with the owner having no idea that their belongings have been searched. Try it yourself smurfchops with any zipper.

My father was a flight engineer so I was brought up with the airlines. All suitcase locks are simple and Customs have keys to open them all. All cases are x-rayed after check-in and any suspicious images (such as powders - talc, dried milk etc. - which might be drugs) are visibly checked.
However, the people who open cases most frequently are the baggage handlers and some spend most of their time searching cases - or simply taking the whole case! For a long time British Airways handlers were known to be amongst the worst. The trouble is that baggage handling is a closed shop with jobs only going to family and friends. Despite the airlines sacking thieves and trying to crack down on theft the handlers simply threaten to walk out. The airlines then back off as any walkout stops flights and costs millions. I believe things aren't much different today.

When you pack your suitcase never pack any valuables but always carry them in hand luggage.

[kia cat]

Put one of those nylon straps on your bag like - http://www.amazon.co....LUVJ0/ref=pd_sim_sg_3 - to keep it shut, should the locks, hinges or zips break. Get it personalised if you want - helps to id your bag on the carousel and also should your bag go astray, it may help filling our the pir [missing bag] form.

Don't spend a fortune on it. Having done 30+ years in & around airports, there's always a way into any bag. It's not worth spending more than a fiver - the strap can always be sliced open with a stanley knife. As others have said keep anything valuable/irreplacable with you [or don't take it on hols]

[smurfchops]

I never buy fashionable suitcases, I don't want them to stand out for that reason, unfortunately we are flying with BA so fingers crossed.