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Travel Forum / Destinations / Asia / January 2004Warning: Do NOT buy TSA-certified locks.
I bought a couple of those new TSA-certified locks from Brookstone because I didn't want to risk having my regular locks broken if the TSA wanted to inspect my checked baggage. So I set a combination on one of them (which was easy to do), and used it to lock my checked baggage. Everything was good for a few days... I'd unlock my baggage in the morning to take out some clothes, and then re-lock it before I left the hotel room. Then I'd unlock it again when I returned to my room in the evening. On the 5th day though, I returned in the evening and tried to unlock my baggage. The lock would not open. My combination was not something I would forget. I tried shifting each number up and down by one or two, but that did not work. The lock just stopped working, which is inexcusable. I ended up getting some pliers from the reception, and bent the lock (which was fairly easy to do) until it opened. I would definitely recommend against using these TSA locks. > I bought a couple of those new TSA-certified locks from Brookstone because I > didn't want to risk having my regular locks broken if the TSA wanted to [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > reception, and bent the lock (which was fairly easy to do) until it opened. I > would definitely recommend against using these TSA locks. We've got four of them which we used for two weeks throughout Italy and 2-1/2 weeks throughout Spain. Not the least problem whatsoever. >I bought a couple of those new TSA-certified locks from Brookstone because I >didn't want to risk having my regular locks broken if the TSA wanted to >inspect my checked baggage. With all the mess and TSA incompetence, I've given up on buying locks for TSA to break. When they break locks, they secure the bag with official TSA cable ties -- so I lock my bags with heavy cable ties to begin with, and carry extras for the return trip . Cheap and effective. -- Larry > >I bought a couple of those new TSA-certified locks from Brookstone because I > >didn't want to risk having my regular locks broken if the TSA wanted to [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > ties -- so I lock my bags with heavy cable ties to begin with, and > carry extras for the return trip . Cheap and effective. I simply don't bother locking my checked luggage at all, but I make a point out of not carrying anything in my checked luggage anway that's of value. If a thief wants my underwear and shirts, he can have them; they're easily replaced. My camera and laptop travel with me on the plane. When I am at my destination, my camera goes out with me wherever I go and my laptop is locked with a locking kit to a desk or other stationery object in the hotel room. My clothes usually get hung up and/or put in a dresser drawer when I stay in a hotel so they do not get all wrinkled. : I bought a couple of those new TSA-certified locks from Brookstone because I : didn't want to risk having my regular locks broken if the TSA wanted to : inspect my checked baggage. Huh? Over here, every piece of luggage is x-rayed upon check-in so the owner can open it if necessary. What's that TSA thing breaking locks? Regards, soenk.e > : I bought a couple of those new TSA-certified locks from Brookstone because I > : didn't want to risk having my regular locks broken if the TSA wanted to > : inspect my checked baggage. > > Huh? Over here, every piece of luggage is x-rayed upon check-in so the owner > can open it if necessary. What's that TSA thing breaking locks? In the US, if TSA doesn't like what they see on the x-ray they'll open the bag. If it's locked, they'll break the locks. The new TSA locks have a master key that TSA can use to open them without damage. > Regards, > soenk.e In rec.travel.europe PTRAVEL <ptravel88-usenet@yahoo.com> wrote: >> Huh? Over here, every piece of luggage is x-rayed upon check-in so the > owner >> can open it if necessary. What's that TSA thing breaking locks? > In the US, if TSA doesn't like what they see on the x-ray they'll open the > bag. If it's locked, they'll break the locks. The new TSA locks have a > master key that TSA can use to open them without damage. Not always. Depends on the airline and the setup. Been in places where you drop your luggage and they take it, and the above will be true, but also found (primarily in Savannah and Atlanta airports) places where they Xrayed and opened with the owner there, so that locks could be opened and such. Julie  SignatureJulie ********** Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm > Not always. Depends on the airline and the setup. Been in places where you > drop your luggage and they take it, and the above will be true, but also found > (primarily in Savannah and Atlanta airports) places where they Xrayed and > opened with the owner there, so that locks could be opened and such. Some airlines at some airports do have machines to inspect bags at check in time. Many airports do not have this capability. >> : I bought a couple of those new TSA-certified locks from Brookstone >because I [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >owner >> can open it if necessary. What's that TSA thing breaking locks? >In the US, if TSA doesn't like what they see on the x-ray they'll open the >bag. If it's locked, they'll break the locks. The new TSA locks have a >master key that TSA can use to open them without damage. An advantage of cable-ties is that you can see immediately if your bags have been "inspected." It's better to discover at the airport if items have been stolen than later at home. : "Sönke Tesch" <soenketesch@gmx.de> wrote in message : >Huh? Over here, every piece of luggage is x-rayed upon check-in so the : > owner can open it if necessary. What's that TSA thing breaking locks? : : In the US, if TSA doesn't like what they see on the x-ray they'll open the : bag. If it's locked, they'll break the locks. The new TSA locks have a : master key that TSA can use to open them without damage. LOL <:) Elsewhere you won't even get on board if something's wrong with your stuff, in the US they destroy ordinary people's things and let the Bad Guys(tm) open luggage with a master key so noone will notice later.. What's TSA, Terrorist Support Agency? This must be a nightmare, someone wake me up, please.. soenk.e Sönke Tesch schrieb: > : "Sönke Tesch" <soenketesch@gmx.de> wrote in message > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > This must be a nightmare, someone wake me up, please.. > soenk.e It's a fact. Some friends of ours had their luggage smashed open, items missing. They were transiting from Mexico via Miami. T. >It's a fact. Some friends of ours had their luggage smashed open, items >missing. They were transiting from Mexico via Miami. Transiting via Canada is looking better and better these days. I'll pay extra to go to Asia via Vancouver rather than LAX, SFO, or Seattle unless I have reason specifically to go to the US. Non-US citizens born in Pakistan and Arab countries (regardless of their current passport) should probably avoid setting foot on US soil entirely, even in transit. Unfortunate, but until things settle out, it's the situation. Best regards, Spehro Pefhany Signature"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com >I bought a couple of those new TSA Nothing like an embittered cross-poster to litter unrelated news groups. Some such locks are easy to accidentally reset the combo when opening and closing them >Some such locks are easy to accidentally reset the combo >when opening and closing them No, with the Brookstone TSA locks, you have to swing the U-shaped thing out 90 degrees, then press it down, and then rotate it another 90 degrees in order to change the combo. That's not something you can do accidentally. >>Some such locks are easy to accidentally reset the combo >>when opening and closing them > >No, with the Brookstone TSA locks, you have to swing the U-shaped thing out 90 >degrees, then press it down, and then rotate it another 90 degrees in order to >change the combo. That's not something you can do accidentally. Ahem. 1) Leave lock tangling from zipper or inside a bag unlocked. 2) Lock gets rotated and pushed in as it bangs into stuff. 3) In a hurry, you fail to notice that the lock is in combination change position, you change digits before you close the lock. Lock, randomize, it's all a blur. 4) oops. I have locks similar to yours. I don't like them. I've caught myself on more than one occasion about to close the lock with an altered combination. I much prefer the kind with with a a pin on the side that must be pushed in order to change the combination. Those need two hands and very deliberate action. They almost require special tools. SignaturePhotos and travelogues from Africa and Southeast Asia: http://www.exile.org |
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