Luggage to USA

bikeit65

Travelling to the USA soon and our suitcases have combination as well as key locks built into the cases, will it be okay to lock these as none of them are TSA locks.

schweiz

You can use them but they will be cut off/forced open if TSA wish to inspect your baggage.

I have a zip on my luggage and just use cable ties to bind the two zip pullers together. That way I can see if my luggage has been opened but no expensive lock or suitcase will be damaged.

VTech

No, US customs break locks on many cases.
A great tip is to use cable ties, I have used them for personal and work for years, safe, secure and you wont get your case wrecked by US agents.

A bust lock and a blue ticket in the case to say sorry for damaging your case isnt the best way to start a trip.
Your not covered by insurance for this either.

bikeit65

The cases dont have zips, so cable ties are not an option.

schweiz

If you want to see if someone has opened/tampered with your luggage then stick a self adhesive paper address label or similar (these are made for the job but 960 labels will do you for a fair few holidays! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Avery-Anti-Tamp ... B000J6BS1K) across the two halves of the case. It will tear if the case is opened. If the in built locks are not TSA approved and they want to get in, they will and then your case is ruined, so best not to lock it at all.

bikeit65

VTech

That's a nice case. I once spent a fortune on similar cases costing over a grand for a set of 4, they were samsonite.
I used them in a trip to Spain with the wife and kids and during that holiday the twin towers were hit in the USA and after that compulsory weight restrictions were put in place and due to them being around 8kg each I've not used them since. They are now in the loft and house the winter/summer quilts for the beds

bikeit65

Samsonite the rolls royce of cases, nice, anyone any idea what the little hole with the red dot is for? last photo

bikeit65

Sorted, red dot lock open grey dot lock locked.

ballysmate

Tend to use cheap cases with zips and padlocks. Some suitcases on the carousel are worth more than my entire luggage contents.
I work on the theory that thieves will be drawn to the bright and shiny rather than my battered case from the local market.