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TSA-safe locks?
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OiGirl



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun
PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2006 5:53 pm    Post subject: TSA-safe locks? Reply with quote
I've seen a few posts by people who said their checked luggage was opened (and perhaps random items were removed) en route. Were they opened by security agents in your own country or in Korea? Has anyone use the new "TSA-safe" locks on your luggage? Do Korean security agents have the keys to open them safely? Or would they ignore them or cut them off?
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Wangja



Joined: 17 May 2004
Location: Seoul, Yongsan
PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2006 5:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
All my baggage is always opened in transit in USA.
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OiGirl



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun
PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2006 6:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
OiGirl wrote:
I rarely check luggage in the US, and the last time it was opened, it was filled with a number of "cultural items." It was no surprise that it had been opened. I did get a nice little letter from the TSA.

Which I just found:


Last edited by OiGirl on Wed May 24, 2006 5:34 pm; edited 1 time in total
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ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2006 7:44 pm    Post subject: Re: TSA-safe locks? Reply with quote
OiGirl wrote:
I've seen a few posts by people who said their checked luggage was opened (and perhaps random items were removed) en route. Were they opened by security agents in your own country or in Korea? Has anyone use the new "TSA-safe" locks on your luggage? Do Korean security agents have the keys to open them safely? Or would they ignore them or cut them off?


AMERICAN security often opens baggage. They are typically the only ones who do.

Here in Korea when you check in as an OUTBOUND passenger your bag is X-RAYED and you are asked to remain near the check-in counter while they do so. If they want to check something in your bag, they will ASK YOU to open it before it gets into the luggage system.

Customs in Korea again X-RAYS and uses sniffer dogs to check INBOUND luggage. If they think there is something they want to check they will put a LARGE YELLOW LOCK on your bag and you will be stopped by customs and your bag will be searched.

In the States bags are routinely opened "for security reasons" and THEFT is a problem. Thanks TSA. I don't know about other countries.
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Hater Depot



Joined: 29 Mar 2005
PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2006 8:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
There is a notice that locks will be cut off if they decide to search your bag. I would think that if they can't cut it you might be in for even more scrutiny.
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desultude



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf
PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2006 1:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Don't put anything valuable in checked luggage- put it in your carry-on. It most likely will be opened, especially if you are going to or through a U.S. airport.
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OiGirl



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun
PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2006 2:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hater Depot wrote:
There is a notice that locks will be cut off if they decide to search your bag. I would think that if they can't cut it you might be in for even more scrutiny.

"they" = who??
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Hater Depot



Joined: 29 Mar 2005
PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2006 5:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
"They" being the TSA. I've seen those notices while waiting in line to take my shoes off and go through the scanner.
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OiGirl



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun
PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2006 12:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes, but there is a certain type of lock you can buy in the US that the TSA, and only the TSA can open. (Well, I mean, besides you, of course.) It's got a code on it and I suppose TSA agents are supposed to have the keys to open these locks. I think the security agents in Great Britain can also open these locks.

http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=183&content=0900051980082cb5 wrote:
In some cases screeners will have to open your baggage as part of the screening process. If your bag is unlocked then TSA will simply open and screen the baggage.

However, if you decide to lock your checked baggage and TSA cannot open your checked baggage through other means, then the locks may have to be broken. TSA is not liable for damage caused to locked bags that must be opened for security purposes.

TSA suggests that you help prevent the need to break your locks by using a TSA recognized locking mechanism. These "special" locks can be opened by TSA using tools provided to us by the luggage industry members.
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OiGirl



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun
PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2006 12:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
While browsing through the TSA site, I also found this:

Quote:
Other items that are not covered in the air carrier limit of liability include, but are not limited to: antiques, books, china, fragile items, liquids, medicines, perishable items, securities and negotiable papers or silverware.


Books?!? Rolling Eyes
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blackjack



Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: anyang
PostPosted: Tue May 16, 2006 1:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
if you don't want to have locks cut open but still want your bags to be protected from casual opening i use those little split ring things that you use to attach your keys to your keyring, with a bit of coloured tape on it so you know if it has been opened, that or you can use those cheap plastic ties, that must be cut off and just keep spare ones in your bag, neither method is going to stop some one getting into your bag if they really want to, but saves you from having to buy new locks when customs cut them open
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ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
PostPosted: Tue May 16, 2006 1:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
blackjack wrote:
if you don't want to have locks cut open but still want your bags to be protected from casual opening i use those little split ring things that you use to attach your keys to your keyring, with a bit of coloured tape on it so you know if it has been opened, that or you can use those cheap plastic ties, that must be cut off and just keep spare ones in your bag, neither method is going to stop some one getting into your bag if they really want to, but saves you from having to buy new locks when customs cut them open


Easier solution... just stay away from the States until they finish their "WAR" and they become a free country again.
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