Do you padlock your suitcase?

SteveJW

Easiest thing in the world to open with a pin, as quick as cutting

TSA luggage locks, never heard of them until I saw a mention in this posting, thought they must be good so Googled for them.

Found a security report from 2004 showing how poor they were. Either to find out the combination or to recreate a master key

Perhaps things have moved on from then

Think it's going to be cable ties from now on, perhaps a bit of superglue to prevent them being opened, or seal with wax as previously suggested for string

photome

I stand corrected..it was easy to open with a pin (still quiker to cut though, just )

I will continue to use them though

Enterprise_1701C

Agree about combination padlocks being easy to open - lost the combination to ours so just sat down for half an hour systematically trying combinations till they opened, I think it would have to be at least 5 numbers before I trusted one again!

I would guess a little bit of superglue along the edge of the tie wrap would stop it being opened with a pin?

RuthnJasper

I used a padlock the last time I went to Italy with a group of friends. Nothing was stolen - but, bizarrely, one of my socks was sticking out of the case, to be seen by all as it trundled around the carousel... It was an embarrassing sock as well...

Cable ties are what I'd recommend. Forget the clippers/scissors - after a few ours of economy class with a few irritable toddlers, you can probably rip those ties off with your bare hands. Most therapeutic.

ferf1223

elisebutt65 wrote: »

Well, yeah - the fact that you've just lost a whole week/fortnight's worth of clothes - if the whole suitcase goes missing.

I had said:

And if the whole bag vanishes it's a different story.

part of my point was, if the whole suitcase goes missing - it being locked or not would be irrelevant? I could understand making a claim if my whole suitcase went missing...but I'm not sure an unlocked case would contribute to it going for a walk? I thought the point of locking your case was to protect against items within it being stolen - not the whole case being stolen...and if there aren't any items of particular value in the case...

I'm not getting my point across very well here, I know.

ok, and thinking about it - if our baggage went missing entirely, the claim would be with the airline...not with travel insurance, wouldn't it?

crazyguy

Only when I transport dead body's

Enterprise_1701C

You normally claim off airlines if your suitcase goes walkies, though they may try to wriggle out of it (the claim, not the suitcase (unless you get so fed up with them you lock them in it if it reappears!)). I've only had it happen once, when I went to Bangkok, but it reappeared within a couple of days, and I only had to buy socks which aren't exactly expensive there.

What amazes me is the amount of people that put valuables in checked luggage, but then I've been watching too many airline style programmes again!

SnowBelle_2

I use TSA locks when travelling,as previously mentioned if someone wants to get in to your case they will.

BUT I would like to think it would be a deterrent to fiddle about with a locked case rather than quickly nabbing stuff from an unlocked case also hopefully no-one is tempted to add anything to the case

That said I never pack anything of value in my hold bags, just clothes and smellies.
I am amazed that people put Laptops,cameras etc in hold luggage then let it trundle off out of sight.

When I go to the US I often bring back chocolates and cake decorating items, my case has always been opened by the TSA whenever I'm bringing this stuff back.
When my friend went to Goa a few years back on opening the cases at home her partner had been left a nice gift...a smelly pair of men's sandals in place of his nice Adidas trainers!She said she could hear his language from downstairs!:)

Cornish_Pasty

I do use a small padlock - not to protect my baggage but just to let me know if someone has been in my luggage or not!!

Infidel

Tojo_Ralph wrote: »

Ye Olde "To Lock Or Not To Lock, That Is The Question" debate ... We haven't had this one for a while.

So to Tojo's logic.

a) Anything that slows down the process of gaining access to goods with the intention of theft is IMHO a deterrent, be it cable ties, padlocks, etc, and yes I know both are easily removed but they still require time.

b) If a zipped case zip handles are not tied off, most cheap/basic zippered luggage is very easy to get into quickly and easily without leaving any tell tale signs, although good quality luggage is not susceptible.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wCwmYQRTrg

c) IMHO good quality hard bodied cases afford the best "protection" for ones possessions be it protection from theft, water/liquid damage or being strewn everywhere when the luggage bursts. Naturally hard bodied cases are heavier, however we are talking security here not cost savings.

My case of choice has three key lockable clasps and a combination lock clasp and whilst I know it would be no major task to a thief to open, its design and quality mean the clasps cannot accidentally open and the body of the case can take a pounding.

The likes of the below would be a good entry level option.
http://www.carltontravelgoods.com/Product/frmProduct_Detail.aspx?SKU=298&cat=20&styid=828&colid=49#

When travelling to the states I simply leave the three clasps closed and unlocked and write the combination next to the lock in indelible pen.... which is then removed with Terps on my return to the UK.

As if airport travel wasn't bad enough without having to worry about their employees stealing your stuff. :eek: