Suitcase locks and zips broken

snit_girl

Hi

we've just returned from Spain today and I went to open the cases when we got home and noticed that the padlocks were gone and the loops on the zip that they fit through were broken, the metal is very pointy and sticking out, quite dangerous if someone was to get caught on it.

The padlocks were the TSA ones, I know these are needed for the US but we always just assumed that European airports could open them too.

There was nothing of real value in the cases and as far as I can tell nothing is missing, there was no notes inside the cases to say they had bee searched (we've has this before). Both cases now have broken zips, one was brand new, and we've lost our TSA padlocks.

Obviously as I noticed this as home we didn't report it at the airport. Does anyone know where we stand with getting our cases repaired or replaced?

geordieracer

Report it to the airline.

luci

Yes you may still be able to claim if you report it within a certain time. It could be 7 days, but you would have to check with the airline.

martindow

You can't really be sure whether someone has broken the locks rather than unlocking them or whether they have been torn off travelling on conveyor belts.

There was a thread recently where several people had been given new cases by airlines after damage which seems a very good deal. You have nothing to lose by making a claim so give it a try.

hxm

although it doesn't help you now, also would suggest that instead of using padlocks you can use cheap plastic cable ties to tie the zips together. you don't have to worry about losing a key or remembering a combination, and if anybody legitimately needs to check your luggage en route, they can easily be removed without damaging enything

jammin_2

Complain to the airline, they'll give you new cases.

ferf1223

hxm wrote: »

although it doesn't help you now, also would suggest that instead of using padlocks you can use cheap plastic cable ties to tie the zips together. you don't have to worry about losing a key or remembering a combination, and if anybody legitimately needs to check your luggage en route, they can easily be removed without damaging enything

Agree - I personally believe a thief is not going to be put off by locks of any sort...personally think that locks on cases are pretty much useless really and some would say a locked case implies valuable contents and makes it more likely to be broken into (I do not know if this is true, but the logic is fairly reasonable)...so we don't put things of value in our checked luggage and use the ties if anything...mostly we just don't bother anymore.

phatbear

Speaking as someone who spends a lot of time breaking into bags im able to speak/type with some authority.

Thieves are opportunists and the theory that if you lock your bag it implies theres something of value in there and thus make it more attractive is poop. Do you not lock your house/car using the same theory? You may also find if you do not take reasonable steps to secure your bag the contents are no longer covered by your travel insurance.

There are ways of course of securing your bags to minimise damage/potential theft, but im saving that info for my autobiography

luci

Our cases don't have zips so don't have padlocks. They are clam shell and the locks are integrated into the case so we can't use cable ties.

Are these ones easy to get into Phatbear?

We have to leave them unlocked when travelling to the US, but I checked with the insurer and they said we were covered as it was a government requirement.

ferf1223

phatbear wrote: »

Thieves are opportunists and the theory that if you lock your bag it implies theres something of value in there and thus make it more attractive is poop. Do you not lock your house/car using the same theory?

I do lock my house/car...because there's valuable stuff in them...whereas in my case, nothing worth stealing. Fair enough if the theory is poop...I did mention I didn't know how true it may be (I don't have any real insight into the minds of those who might want to make some of my stuff some of theirs).

stoneman

hxm wrote: »

although it doesn't help you now, also would suggest that instead of using padlocks you can use cheap plastic cable ties to tie the zips together. you don't have to worry about losing a key or remembering a combination, and if anybody legitimately needs to check your luggage en route, they can easily be removed without damaging enything

Or if anyone that doesn't have a legitimate reason for getting into your case can just cut the ties with something sharp