Luggage lock broken at airport

chuckley

Tojo_Ralph wrote: »

All luggage with a lock on it contain something valuable? all luggage contains valuables but a lock breeds curiosity and they will want to check...
All luggage with a lock on will be spotted [strike]by thieves[/strike]?yes
All luggage with a lock on it will be opened? more than likely, yes

Hmmmm :think:

whats so important that u gotta lock ur case?!

Tojo_Ralph

andrewmoorcroft wrote: »

Airport security no longer accepts locked luggage at any airport.

andrewmoorcroft wrote: »

My comment relates to 'check-in' luggage any time after baggage drop/check in.
The comment is not appropriate to hand luggage.

Are you seriously claiming that that airlines no longer accept checked in luggage that is locked?

Tojo_Ralph

chuckley wrote: »

All luggage contains valuables but a lock breeds curiosity and they will want to check!

Who is they?

Why will they want to check it?

chuckley wrote: »

whats so important that u gotta lock ur case?!

If you read the thread, you will see why I lock the case I use.

chuckley wrote: »

It's more than likely that luggage with a lock on it will be opened?

By who?

andrewmoorcroft

Tojo_Ralph wrote: »

Are you seriously claiming that that airlines no longer accept checked in luggage that is locked?

Security do not accept a lock as a deterent to stop the hand checking of your bag. Check-in staff sometimes mention it if they see a lock and warn you to unlock it, but it's not there job to do so, just like it is not their job to hand check or x-ray your bag, so check-in staff often accept a locked bag for security to break the lock if they wish.
It is the job of security to check bags at any point during the process. The job looks quite boring and having watched the panorama programme last year (on airport security) i wouln't be suprised if individuals get some perverse satisfaction out of breaking locks off when they shouldn't be used.
I can see that this could get a little heated. I'm not an expert, i dont know the rules, i travel twice per year between UK/US and have known of peoples locks being broken off in recent years. The guys i travel with NEVER lock their case because they now expect the lock to be broken if they did. Some of them use a cable tie across the zip holes that can be easily replaced if removed.

andrewmoorcroft

Ummm. I've deleted this. It was a double post. Not sure how it happens but ive seen it before with others and wondered what causes it!

stephb34

I didn't use to lock my suitcase on the way out on my package hol (not business) until my husband had his brand new england trainers with tag still on knicked out of my case at east midlands airport and he spent all holiday saying i'd left them on the bedroom floor. Although i have always locked it on the way back because of my duty free items so after reading all these replies im now confused as to what to do, lock my case and it looks like its got things worth knicking or dont lock it and my stuff gets knicked anyway!!

luci

I think there is some confusion here on whether you are going to the US or Europe.

We never lock the luggage when we are going to the US as the TSA may wish to examine it and have the right to gain access however they see fit. We do however lock it when going to Europe.

I'm surprised that anyone had a Samsonite lock ruined travelling to the US. The TSA have master keys for most major brands of suitcase and can access without breaking the lock.

My brother didn't know about not locking luggage the first time he went to NY with a Samsonite case. The only way he knew his case had been opened/examined was by the leaflet left inside saying so.

ChasingButterflies

Hi op,

I think damage to luggage has to be reported at the airport...

Have you contacted Samsonite customer service (you need the model no of your case - this is normally on the sticker on the tags and a lable somewhere on the inside of the case) I have had a couple of broken locks - they sent out replacements foc and DH was able to change them.

I am not too sure if it is the lock that is the problem but it might be worth a call anyway?

andrewmoorcroft

luci wrote: »

I'm surprised that anyone had a Samsonite lock ruined travelling to the US. The TSA have master keys for most major brands of suitcase and can access without breaking the lock.

The lock that i know about was a samsonite combination lock. The whole clasp assembly with integral lock had been pulled off. Security taped around the case to stop it openning and left a note to say dont lock it in future. He tried to claim but airport security said it shouldnt have been locked.

psychopathbabble

Tojo_Ralph wrote: »

Locks or no locks, I don't know of any country other than the USA where one is likely to get ones luggage legally opened by security services when one is not present? I'm not saying that security in some of the less desirable locations around the world aren't permited to legally open ones luggage when one is not present, but with regard to the obvious travel destinations in the likes of Asia, South America, Europe, Australasia, etc, as far as I know, security services will only inspect the contents with the owner present.

They can search what they like, when they like. I got back from Tanzania a couple of months ago, and when I collected my suitcase it had a tiny sticker with security checked written on it. I certainly wasn't present when they did that. I believe they have to check a certain number of bags. When I went to USA last, there were signs up stating that you shouldn't lock your bags as it may be broken if they decide to search it.