TSA locks for travel cases

Greetings,

Does anyone have experience using the TSA locks sold by Pelican? I think they are called "PeliLock" for use on travel cases. They are suppose to be accepted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). It would be nice to be able to keep checked-in travel cases locked.

Regards,

Tomi

Friend of mine used the TSA locks on his pelican case. When it came down the luggage belt from our last trip they were all gone. If someone wants in your bag I don't think the lock (TSA or otherwise) will stop them.

I just use zip ties. Takes someone just as long to cut if they are so inclined, but they are a lot cheaper. And it's easy to tell if someone has opened your bag.

Friend of mine used the TSA locks on his pelican case. When it came down the luggage belt from our last trip they were all gone. If someone wants in your bag I don't think the lock (TSA or otherwise) will stop them.

 

I just use zip ties. Takes someone just as long to cut if they are so inclined, but they are a lot cheaper. And it's easy to tell if someone has opened your bag.

A long time ago I was told that if someone if going to take things, locks will not make a difference. The whole piece of luggage will go MIA. Locks and ziip tiies will not stop theft, it only keeps things closed so things do not faall out.

I use the zip ties myself, and if you leave where they will be seen when the bag is open, TSA will often rezip the bag closed.

I've had friends and family members who either had items stolen out of their bag or had their bag "gone" through. This was on a cruise starting/ending in Puerto Rico.

On this same trip, a Pelican case with UW photo equipment came through missing a lock and the remaining lock was damaged.

The zip ties method sounds like a good approach. Thanks for the tip.

Tomi

Last November, I purchased and official "pelican" brand TSA lock for my pelican case, because it was the only lock that fit the case properly. When I got to my detination, I discovered that TSA had cut the lock, and put a note on it stating that their key (#0002) would not open the lock. So much for that idea!. I had a cheaper brand x TSA lock as a spare for the way home, and that made the trip. I'm not sure whose fault why the lock was not unlockable by TSA.

Last November, I purchased and official "pelican" brand TSA lock for my pelican case, because it was the only lock that fit the case properly. When I got to my detination, I discovered that TSA had cut the lock, and put a note on it stating that their key (#0002) would not open the lock. So much for that idea!. I had a cheaper brand x TSA lock as a spare for the way home, and that made the trip. I'm not sure whose fault why the lock was not unlockable by TSA.

I've taken to simply purchasing an extra set of locks to place inside the luggage.

I attach a note to TSA asking them to relock the case with these when they are finished "inspecting"

This seems to work well for me.

I'm more concerned with them "repacking" the contents than I am with them opening the case.

Yes, I just used mine for the first time for domestic travel and it works well. There is even a trigger on the lock that changes position if TSA has entered your case and relocked it. I don't rely on that for security. What I do is rely on camoflauge. I place my locked Pelican in this rather nasty Navy Canvas Bag with all sorts of stains. Then I pack dirty laundry around it in my way home or on the way out just beach clothes.

"Then I pack dirty laundry around it in my way home or on the way out just beach clothes."

It might have been James that posted a link to these in the past, but anyway maybe you could throw in a couple pair of these for good measure, http://www.shomer-tec.com/site/product.cfm...F2BE5BED6A1828B

"Then I pack dirty laundry around it in my way home or on the way out just beach clothes."

http://www.shomer-tec.com/site/product.cfm...F2BE5BED6A1828B

Those briefs look like they may be very useful when packing for a trip

But it would look strange if I had a pair of those in my luggage. Wonder if they make a female version of the product....

Ellen

Those briefs look like they may be very useful when packing for a trip

 

But it would look strange if I had a pair of those in my luggage. Wonder if they make a female version of the product....

 

Ellen

Hey! Just make your own. A pair of panties....brown shoe polish........

I have been using a Pelican 1510 Case along with a LowePro CompuTrekker Plus Backpack to get most of my laptop, camera and housing equipment to my final destinations. This year I dumping the Pelican 1510 and get a Pelican Storm iM2720 that should be able to hold all my housing equipment. I did a search on the Internet and found these locks - Model 6430 and Model 6435 from TamperSeal. The locks are TSA approved and have a much thicker shackle. Has anyone tried using these? One of my concerns is that these locks may have a "try and get me open" look to a would be thief. (If the case itself already doesn't do that .)

I would use the smaller locks, but the shackles on the ones I have bend too easily. The cable ones might solve this issue.

What locks are people here using today?

Thanks,

we only use tsa locks for travel within the usa that does not include diving/uw photo-video. for any uw photo-video trip we use zip ties with extra in each case if it is opened. so far, we've had good success.

I picked up five bags off the London Gatwick carousel a couple of weeks ago. All were locked with TSA locks on check-in at Sharm airport. Later, I found one of the bags had its locks removed and four canon bodies, three lenses and a speedlight were missing... :-(

I'm under the impression that TSA locks only work in the States, outside the US the security people do not have TSA keys and will cut the locks to view the baggage contents.

after talking with a TSA director

TSA Locks == steal me

after talking with a TSA director

 

TSA Locks == steal me

Why? Is it because TSA keys are available to potential thieves?

After four flights in five days I can confirm that the TSA remain vigilant.

They have opened my bag every flight so far - have not missed a single opportunity.

Must be something interesting in there, if I had been using locks then this would be costing a fortune - zip ties are pretty cheap.

To be fair to the TSA I still have all of my stuff so far.

Paul C

After four flights in five days I can confirm that the TSA remain vigilant.

 

They have opened my bag every flight so far - have not missed a single opportunity.

 

Must be something interesting in there, if I had been using locks then this would be costing a fortune - zip ties are pretty cheap.

 

To be fair to the TSA I still have all of my stuff so far.

 

Paul C

Are you putting spare zip ties in your luggage? Does TSA put them on after each inspection?

There are spares there - three times they ignored them and the fourth time they used a zip tie of their own to 'secure' a redundant zip back to itself rendering the feature useless - go figure.

I am only putting the zip ties on for a laugh to see if I am being opened up or not, I am building a collection of the little "you have been inspected by the TSA" notification slips that you find buried deep in your underpants - quite disturbing.

Wish I could figure what is so 'interesting' about my plain black bag, something is triggering the interest.

Maybe it is the zip ties !

Paul C