Wimpy TSA locks

I've got a bunch of the little black TSA-approved combination locks, and they appear to be practically useless, at least for hard (e.g., Pelican) checked cases. Roughly half the time they are completely gone when I retrieve the bag at the other end. On one trip last year, I had two on my Pelican 1610 -- one was gone and the other had been wrenched open (probably just with a pair of pliers) and was just hanging there in a curled mess.

I assume that the reason these locks are so wimpy is so that -- if for some reason the TSA key (which I assume most baggage-handling thieves have anyway) doesn't work, they can easily cut the lock off. But it logically follows that anyone ELSE can cut them off just as easily... <_<

I've resorted to just using heavy zip-ties, and really pulling them TIGHT, which makes them virtually impossible to twist off with pliers, and somewhat difficult (more difficult than a TSA lock anyway) to cut off. But I sure wish there was a really heavy-duty TSA lock that I could use on one side of a case (and zip-tie the other). I just can't find one!

Hi Bruce,

I also gave up on TSA locks when I lost a couple in one of my past trips. I figured that TSA personnel didn't have the keys close enough and forced them anyways, so what's the point of TSA locks, which are a lot more expensive than regular locks? I also use cable ties, but I don't use pelican cases anymore, I think they are a magnet for dishonest airport personnel. I pack my housing (with the camera inside) in my carry-on bag and the dive gear and strobes in a regular travel suitcase (no dive or photo related logs or decals).

Luiz

after they chopped my locks off and either stole or lost my allen key set amongst other things and just left me w note (oh they also unscrewed my air release valve and left it off !!! so no longer water tight !!)

I am planning on getting it welded shut with some unbreakable metal just to give them a hard time for being such idiots and not having a clue how to run a secure and safe airport.

Over the top does not equal safe it means your staff dont know what they are doing so they just do everything.

Sorry just bitter about all my travelling experiences through the US in the last few years ... and extremely pissed they stole from me and broke my stuff.

Hey Giles,

I don't think that you will find too many on this forum that disagree with your thoughts about the TSA.

It would great to see them try and get into a welded shut bag. I would love to watch that. Probably try some little needle nosed pliers, or the ones on a leatherman tool that they "Found" somewhere.

I have had them resuse the ZIP TIES that I put on my bags, but they put them on wrong. The Mensa member Threaded the thin end through the locking nut from the wrong side so they weren't tight at all. I just opened them with my hands..

I have had them reuse the ZIP TIES that I put on my bags, but they put them on wrong.

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On some bags in places where they said they were opening ALL bags, I've just left a few new zip-ties hanging in the places where the latches were, so they could re-zip-tie them when they were done. When I arrived at my destination, there were the zip-ties -- still hanging unused from the same latches. Guess the TSA folks weren't sure how to "operate" them...

It doesn't matter what gorilla lock you get, if TSA wants in they will get in. Post 9-11 has given them authority to steal your gear and not be held accountable for it. Since there are no reprecussions for TSA theives, stolen items in checked luggage has gone up considerably. If a TSA agent is credible, they usually handle your gear with some degree of care and relock it for you. However, recent data on the news suggests that nearly 50 percent of TSA workers have criminal backgrounds. How's that for security??? both in terms of gear safety and public safety.

Joe

I quickly learned, a year ago, the TSA locks are useless. The TSA people just laugh at them ... they don't have the keys, nor the time or inclination to go hunt them down when needed. Unfortunately, I've concluded, zip ties are about the best you can do. At many smaller airports, such as here in Austin, the bag security area is on the main level near the ticket counter. You can actually observe your bag being opened and hand the TSA guy some spare zip ties to re-lock it after inspection. They seem less instrusive these days ... more willing to open and just take some swab samples inside, then close it up. One thing I learned the hard way ... never lubricate the hinges or hinge pins with anything like WD40. It has something in it that makes the sensors go absolutely crazy.

Hey, TSA has nothing on onery compared to Quantas Airlines. I traveled all the way across the USA with my 1510 as a carry-on. Inside was a minute spanner wrench I use on my camera tray. No one worried about it all the way into Brisbane. In Brisbane, they confiscated it as a dangerous TOOL!!

There was no talking them out of it. God forbid I started disassembling the plane while inflight!

Tools are not allowed in carry on luggage. I was warned about my allen wrench in my carry on in San Juan, PR and was told that I should place it in my checked luggage.

I didn't get searched for it, but I'm sure if I did, they would have confiscated it.

its a frickin allen key !!!!! what the hell am i gonan do with that !! .. someone needs to educate security people on sensible precautions not ridiculaous ones. Safety is not about prohibiting it's about control and knowledge.

I would like to see one of the security officials educate me on how an allen key could be of harm.

I was warned about my allen wrench in my carry on in San Juan, PR and was told that I should place it in my checked luggage.

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Amazing, so if an allen wrench is dangerous, I guess now a PEN would be considered a lethal weapon too, right? It is funny because at meal time on international flights they give you nice metal fork and knife (at least at Continental).

and you can carry on bottles of liquor which could be made into weapons so much easier ... i could go on forever about all of this stuff ... it's amazing how many people you can talk to who hate travelling through the USA it's always been a bad experience .. Miami in my experience is by far the worst airport in the world although Raleigh Durham in NC almost took the bullet in february this year.

Its one thing having bad security but the airports are badly organised, staff are unhelpfull and in miami dont speak english or refuse to, there is no sense to the extra long routes you have to walk to get to your gates when transferring even though there are connecting coridors you have to walk out and back through security, they have transfer lounges for transferring visitors but make you check out and check in again. You also have to check your bags out and back in again on an international flight when transferring through even though they have been checked in say the UK and aren't due to be picked up until Cayman Miami makes you take them out have them searched again and re check them .. pointless they could just go all the way through it just gives you another chance to put something in them .. same as making you check out and in .. gives you more chance to do something you shouldn't.

anyone work out how much it winds me up having to travel through the states on a regular basis.

Hey Gilles, if you think Miami is bad you have to see, or should I say, stay away from Los Angeles, it is unbelieveable. You actually go through three ridiculously long lines in the international terminal, one to have your check-in luggage inspected, one for you to check in, and the third to have your carry-on luggage inspected. In most airports, including Miami, they combine the first and second line and only inspect your luggage after you check in.

The worst part of all of this is that if its your first time there you usually go to the check in line with all your luggage, then someone from the airline will tell you that you are on the wrong line (half an hour later if you're lucky). The international terminal is not connected to the domestic terminal, and you have to walk a lot between terminals. There is a lot of construction and the airport is a complete mess. L.A. sucks!

Miami is actually getting better. I flew to Spain through there last year and didn't have to remove my checked bags or check in again. I guess it depends on what company you are flying, some companies have some kind of agreement with TSA. I flu american airlines.