I usually take everything I need in a carry-on, but now with the new restrictions I can't take my shampoo, lotion, etc (all terribly important!) with me and I'll have to check a bag. Yuk. Anyway, I was reading on the FAA website, and it said not to lock my checked-in bag. But I WANT to lock it! What's to keep anyone from pawing through it and helping themselves? Any advice?

By Jackie on Monday, September 4, 2006 - 02:20 pm:

They will open your lock if you lock it. I mean they search the checked bags randomly. We just got back last week. One of the kids smaller suitecases, had a nice little note in it saying it had been inspected. My guess when they say no locks is because they want to be able to search anything they want.

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, September 4, 2006 - 03:01 pm:

My son uses those plastic strips that "lock" - the ones electricians use to hold groups of wires together, through the loops on a suitcase where you would ordinarily put a lock. That way if it is opened, he will know. He carries some extras of those straps with him when he travels, to re-fasten. The plastic straps can be cut. If you lock your bag and security wants to check it, they will simply remove the lock, and then you'll have a broken lock.

There was never anything to keep baggage handlers from going through your bags except their own honesty and that very seldom is one baggage handler unobserved when with the baggage.

Oh, and if I were traveling nowadays, I'd put all liquids in a waterproof, sealed, relatively tough container, as bags do get dumped on top of other bags, and with mostly soft-sided luggage, a bottle could get broken or a plastic bottle ruptured - better to protect the other things in your suitcase from possible leakage. If it were me, I'd wait until I got where I was going and buy small or sample sizes of my shampoo and other stuff when I get there.

By Kate on Monday, September 4, 2006 - 03:48 pm:

No, you can't lock it. The suitcase locks are so flimsy anyway that anyone could get into them. Just be at baggage claim immediately to grab your stuff. It's unlikely you're packing anything valuable anyway, right? You can still take your cell and laptop and camera in your carryon. I just traveled and in my city EVERY suitcase is pawed thru. You may stand and watch if you like.

By Conni on Monday, September 4, 2006 - 06:59 pm:

We traveled to Costa Rica a week ago and took one suitcase with our clothes and one smaller one with all of our toiliteries (sp?) in ziploc's... We checked both of those bags and could not lock them.

For our carry on I just had my purse and dh had a backpack with laptop/camera/etc... I could take lip STICK in my purse but no lip GLOSS or mascara, etc...

Frankly, I really enjoyed checking my bags and having nothing to keep up with other than my purse! It was quite nice not to lug anything around. It also seemed much quicker getting on and off the planes, as we did not have to stand around waiting on everyone to get their bags down- (from the overhead compartments).

We have to go back in 2-3 weeks and I am now nervous (always get paranoid about something before I fly- lol) because of the latest accidents. (ie: pilot that got on the wrong runway and the plane burned, and then the tire that caught on fire... ahhhhh )

Have a safe trip!!! Oh and as for locking your bags- just dont take anything you dont want to lose. I no longer travel with jewelry, etc... We always take our electronics on the plane with us.

By Annie2 on Monday, September 4, 2006 - 08:34 pm:

The last three times we have flown; last Oct and twice in May, we had to have our checked bags inspected before we were able to have them tagged. Locks were not permitted.

By Janet on Monday, September 4, 2006 - 10:37 pm:

Thanks!

By Karen~admin on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 07:41 am:

Janet, there is nothing you can do to stop them from searching your luggage. We have flown at LOT in the last 18 months, and we have seen them searching ours, just after it was put in the group to be scanned. Other times, we have found the paper with the notice it was searched inside the luggage. Still other times, it was totally obvious it had been searched because everything was moved around.

I always pack shampoo, lotions, conditioner, mouthwash, etc. in ziplocs anyway to protect anything else in case they leak - and they HAVE on occasion.

I also put my bras and panties in ziplocs. I just have a problem with *knowing* some stranger is touching them. UGH

We plan to do what Ginny's son does with the zip ties. They actually come in different sizes and colors, plus they also work for broken swim suit tops. LOL

By Janet on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 10:19 am:

Yes, the zip tie idea sounds good to me, too. And I remember the last time I flew, I took your advice about the underwear in the ziploc bags! I just wish I didn't have to mess with baggage claim. Oh well. The airports I'm flying in/out of are relatively small, so it should be OK.

By Kay on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 01:49 pm:

You can buy locks for your luggage now that are airline-approved - they can be opened by you or by the airline with some master-type key.