How do I know if my suitcase has TSA lock?

Simply look for the 'Red Diamond'. Every lock that carries the Travel Sentry® Approved mark is accepted by the TSA and other security agencies.



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A TSA lock is one to which only TSA officials have a key. You set the combination yourself and, if a TSA agent has to look inside your bag because they see something suspicious on the scanner, it can be easily opened with their master key.

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If you're using a lock that isn't approved by TSA, agents have the authority to break open that lock to search through a bag. If you're carrying your valuables with you in your carry-on bags, and you don't have anything really valuable in your checked luggage, then you may not need to use a luggage lock.

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To prevent your baggage from being opened without your consent, we recommend you use a luggage lock. Some suitcases already have a lock built into the luggage, but if not you can find a TSA-approved (i.e. one that airport security agents can easily open) lock at luggage stores or online.

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According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), yes, you can zip-tie your luggage shut so no one would be able to simply unzip your luggage and go through it. You are allowed to zip-tie it because the TSA can snip it open if they need/want/desire to go through it for some reason.

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8 ways to prevent your luggage getting lost
  1. While there's no definitive way to stop your luggage from getting lost, there are some steps you can take to give your bags a better chance. Make sure your bag is tagged properly. ...
  2. Make clear where it's going and who owns it. ...
  3. Avoid tight layovers. ...
  4. Make your bag stand out.


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The TSA 007 is by far the most common, with the TSA 002 being next in my experience. The TSA 004 is used by CCL Presto Lock, but you don't see it in stores much. The TSA 005 can be found in some Lewis & Clark and Samsonite locks and seems to use a Master Lock M2 blank (I should have a master key for it shortly).

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The purpose of this lock is so that TSA officers are able to access the suitcase if need be.

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The leading cause of lost luggage is the mishandling of the bags between flights or from the sorting office to your airplane.

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Even if you purchased your ticket, checked in and flew most of your itinerary with just one airline, if another airline operates the final leg of your flight, that airline is responsible for handling your baggage claim.

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If you must check your suitcase, try to book a non-stop flight whenever possible — especially if you're flying international. According to SITA, the mishandling rate on international routes is 8.7 bags per thousand passengers; on domestic routes, it's 1.85 bags per thousand.

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By comparison, this 3-dial lock (three wheels, each with digits 0-9) has 10 × 10 × 10 = 1, 000 possible combinations.

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