If you don't have any luggage locks, cable ties will serve the same purpose in a pinch. If your luggage has lockable zips (two zip pulls, with small loops at the base of each), just thread the largest cable tie that fits through the loops, and pull tight.
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Another easy and less expensive alternative to a lock is zip ties. So, if TSA clips them off, it won't be a financial loss. Some travelers choose to wrap their suitcases in plastic, which prevents theft as well as breakage. You may have even seen this service offered at the airport.
What happens if you forget to lock your luggage? For unlocked luggage, it's possible that it might be opened by airport security even without the TSA lock. If your luggage is selected for a random search or flagged for any reason, airport security may open your luggage to inspect its contents.
TSA LOCK® is a global security system which allows passengers to lock their luggage, while permitting security authorities to inspect them without damage. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, was the first security agency to use the system.
The TSA screeners have access to special tools that allow them to open TSA-Approved locks in the event that your bags must be opened for inspection. They no longer need to cut your locks or force the bag open and risk damaging it.
Many travelers take time to add a luggage tag to the suitcases they plan to check-in. However, it's just as important to add a luggage tag to carry-on bags. In the event an airline overbooks a flight, there's a chance a carry-on will have to be checked at the gate and already having a tag in place helps with tracking.
Countries with TSA Lock RequirementsHence, several countries (USA, Canada, Japan, Israel, Finland, Austria and South Korea) require travellers to have their suitcases locked with a specific brand of locks that can be unlocked by aviation security.
For example, if a combination lock has three dials, each of which is numbered zero through nine, it will only have a total of 720 different combinations. While this may sound sufficient to protect against cracking, a motivated thief can probably find the correct combination in less than an hour.