Locking Luggage

My old next door neighbor worked at DEN for UA as a luggage handler. He had
a co-worker who had a very large ring of keys to luggage. He said he had to
have them in case someone needed to get into the luggage. He had no
business with those keys. There was another incident at ORD on an AA flight
where someone saw the luggage handler going through his bag. Police
wouldn't press charges because there was only one witness, and they said
that someone else could have gotten into his luggage, too.

In short, I would never use a lock with a key. I use a combination lock
with the lock going through a cable tie. If the TSA needs to open my
luggage, they can cut the tie. I use colored ties as a way of identifying
my luggage, too.

Tom Smith

"Mike Cordelli" wrote in message
...
Yeah, because before the TSA got involved, there was never a chance
anybody
would break into your luggage.




"Dennis P. Harris" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 19:59:14 -0700 in rec.travel.cruises, "Jim"
wrote:

TSA is a farce with this and thief from luggage has
gone through the roof and the TSA just smile and say they are not
responsible!

please cite the source for your statement that "thief from
luggage has gone through the roof". just cite any reliable news
or police organization.

Jim,

See Sec. 110 of Public Law 107-71 (Aviation and Transportation Security Act)
signed by President Bush on November 18, 2001. This section amended 49 USC
44901 which required that all bags be screened. Here is the specific
section pertaining to luggage.

BEGIN QUOTE

(d) EXPLOSIVE DETECTION SYSTEMS.-
(1) IN GENERAL.
-The Under Secretary of Transportation for Security shall take all necessary
action to ensure that-
(A) explosive detection systems are deployed as soon as possible to ensure
that all United States airports described in section 44903(c) have
sufficient explosive detection systems to screen all checked baggage no
later than December 31, 2002, and that as soon as such systems are in place
at an airport, all checked baggage at the airport is screened by those
systems; and
(B) all systems deployed under subparagraph (A) are fully utilized; and
(C) if explosive detection equipment at an airport is unavailable, all
checked baggage is screened by an alternative
means.
(e) MANDATORY SCREENING WHERE EDS NOT YET AVAILABLE.
-As soon as practicable but not later than the 60th day following the date
of enactment of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act and until the
requirements of subsection (b)(1)(A) are met, the Under Secretary shall
require alternative means for screening any piece of checked baggage that is
not screened by an explosive detection system. Such alternative means may
include 1 or more of the following:
(1) A bag-match program that ensures that no checked baggage is placed
aboard an aircraft unless the passenger who
checked the baggage is aboard the aircraft.
(2) Manual search.
(3) Search by canine explosive detection units in combination with other
means.
(4) Other means or technology approved by the Under Secretary.

END QUOTE

In summary, they are now required and authorized to search your luggage to
prevent explosives from being brought on board an aircraft. While
electronic detection systems are preferred, they are authorized to do manual
searches if a machine is not available. Most airport don't have the
equipment installed (still) since in a lot of cases they have to redesign
the baggage handling systems.

Tom Smith

"Jim" wrote in message
...
This is my point! Please tell me just how over half the bags had to be
opened and inspected? What was everyone carrying in these bags that raised
such a concern when x-rayed that they had to immediately open and check
them
behind closed doors? TSA is a farce with this and thief from luggage has
gone through the roof and the TSA just smile and say they are not
responsible!
Jim


"Mike Cordelli" wrote in message
...
At the ticket counter on a flight last week in San Francisco they were
asking everybody with real locks on their bags to please unlock them.
When
we landed there were many bags (well over half of them) that has the
inspected by the TSA sticker on them, and about half of those had badly
busted locks because people still lock their bags.

If your lock can't be popped if they need to without damaging the bag,
then
I wouldn't lock it. The ticket counter was recommending tape around the
bag, this way you could tell if they were in it, and they could get in
without damaging the bag.


"Doug" wrote in message
...
What is the general feeling about not locking your luggage per the new
guidelines?

We have built-in locks in our luggage and if you don't lock it, it's
very easy for the latches to be opened. On our last trip, one of the
latches was open when we got our bags from the luggage belt. Luckily
we have straps around them just for this reason.

Any experience with the TSA opening your locked bags? Any stolen
items from unlocked luggage?

This is just another example of how our government took advantage of the
public's alarm after the 9/11 tragedy and over reacted by enacting
senseless regulations and infringing on our personal rights.

Just my humble opinion.

In article ,
(Robert "Bob" Edwards) wrote:

This is just another example of how our government took advantage of the
public's alarm after the 9/11 tragedy and over reacted by enacting
senseless regulations and infringing on our personal rights.

I know someone that works as a screener for TSA. He says to wait and
watch your baggage until it's through the screening process then ask for
a minute to place the wire-tie locks on your luggage. They'll give you
time to lock your stuff so it's safe from airlines baggage handlers.

Tom,
I am aware of the wording of the ATSA but as you can see manual search
is only one of the four ways bags need be checked. In addition, just because
they passed this Act doesn;t mean it is right or even legal under the
Constitution. Remember history about the Relocation Act imposed upon all
those of 1/16 Japanese blood during 1942? It was passed and adhered to for
years but certainly was not Constitutional under our founding articles.
There have been too many reports, both official and unofficial, about the
huge increase in theft from baggage at our airports since the inception of
this Act. Most of the TSA people that we have seen at the airports display
as much professionalism as the local mall security officer. You see them
search kids and women with children and businessmen but Arabic looking men
in their upper 20's some even wearing the traditional clothing walk right
one! The excuse is they cannot profile. Be damned about this profiling junk,
profiling is what should be done for the most part.
Jim

"Thomas Smith" -NO-SPAM wrote in message
...
Jim,

See Sec. 110 of Public Law 107-71 (Aviation and Transportation Security
Act)
signed by President Bush on November 18, 2001. This section amended 49
USC
44901 which required that all bags be screened. Here is the specific
section pertaining to luggage.

BEGIN QUOTE

(d) EXPLOSIVE DETECTION SYSTEMS.-
(1) IN GENERAL.
-The Under Secretary of Transportation for Security shall take all
necessary
action to ensure that-
(A) explosive detection systems are deployed as soon as possible to ensure
that all United States airports described in section 44903(c) have
sufficient explosive detection systems to screen all checked baggage no
later than December 31, 2002, and that as soon as such systems are in
place
at an airport, all checked baggage at the airport is screened by those
systems; and
(B) all systems deployed under subparagraph (A) are fully utilized; and
(C) if explosive detection equipment at an airport is unavailable, all
checked baggage is screened by an alternative
means.
(e) MANDATORY SCREENING WHERE EDS NOT YET AVAILABLE.
-As soon as practicable but not later than the 60th day following the date
of enactment of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act and until the
requirements of subsection (b)(1)(A) are met, the Under Secretary shall
require alternative means for screening any piece of checked baggage that
is
not screened by an explosive detection system. Such alternative means may
include 1 or more of the following:
(1) A bag-match program that ensures that no checked baggage is placed
aboard an aircraft unless the passenger who
checked the baggage is aboard the aircraft.
(2) Manual search.
(3) Search by canine explosive detection units in combination with other
means.
(4) Other means or technology approved by the Under Secretary.

END QUOTE

In summary, they are now required and authorized to search your luggage to
prevent explosives from being brought on board an aircraft. While
electronic detection systems are preferred, they are authorized to do
manual
searches if a machine is not available. Most airport don't have the
equipment installed (still) since in a lot of cases they have to redesign
the baggage handling systems.

Tom Smith

"Jim" wrote in message
...
This is my point! Please tell me just how over half the bags had to be
opened and inspected? What was everyone carrying in these bags that
raised
such a concern when x-rayed that they had to immediately open and check
them
behind closed doors? TSA is a farce with this and thief from luggage has
gone through the roof and the TSA just smile and say they are not
responsible!
Jim


"Mike Cordelli" wrote in message
...
At the ticket counter on a flight last week in San Francisco they were
asking everybody with real locks on their bags to please unlock them.
When
we landed there were many bags (well over half of them) that has the
inspected by the TSA sticker on them, and about half of those had
badly
busted locks because people still lock their bags.

If your lock can't be popped if they need to without damaging the bag,
then
I wouldn't lock it. The ticket counter was recommending tape around
the
bag, this way you could tell if they were in it, and they could get in
without damaging the bag.


"Doug" wrote in message
...
What is the general feeling about not locking your luggage per the
new
guidelines?

We have built-in locks in our luggage and if you don't lock it, it's
very easy for the latches to be opened. On our last trip, one of
the
latches was open when we got our bags from the luggage belt.
Luckily
we have straps around them just for this reason.

Any experience with the TSA opening your locked bags? Any stolen
items from unlocked luggage?

And in so many other ways as well.

Jeff



Robert Bob Edwards wrote:

This is just another example of how our government took advantage of the
public's alarm after the 9/11 tragedy and over reacted by enacting
senseless regulations and infringing on our personal rights.

Just my humble opinion.

This is what they do at National airport. I can watch my bag go through
the sniffer machine and they allow me to lock it back up when TSA is
does with it. This is the best possible way (imho) of doing this.

Jeff



Paul Sch wrote:

I know someone that works as a screener for TSA. He says to wait and
watch your baggage until it's through the screening process then ask for
a minute to place the wire-tie locks on your luggage. They'll give you
time to lock your stuff so it's safe from airlines baggage handlers.

In article ,
wrote:

This is what they do at National airport. I can watch my bag go through
the sniffer machine and they allow me to lock it back up when TSA is
does with it. This is the best possible way (imho) of doing this.

That is good to know. I am leaving from National next weekend. Does
anyone know what they do at Ft. Lauderdale, which is where I return
from?

--
Charles

"Paul Sch" wrote in message
news

I know someone that works as a screener for TSA. He says to wait and
watch your baggage until it's through the screening process then ask for
a minute to place the wire-tie locks on your luggage. They'll give you
time to lock your stuff so it's safe from airlines baggage handlers.

I have only traveled twice since this "no lock" rule went into affect. Both
times the screener's would not allow you to touch your luggage after
inspection, which only makes sense. They would however put tie wraps, locks,
etc. on upon request by the owner. They would also do this within eye sight
of the owner. Works for us.



Jeff

"Doug" wrote in message
...
What is the general feeling about not locking your luggage per the new
guidelines?

We have built-in locks in our luggage and if you don't lock it, it's
very easy for the latches to be opened. On our last trip, one of the
latches was open when we got our bags from the luggage belt. Luckily
we have straps around them just for this reason.

Any experience with the TSA opening your locked bags? Any stolen
items from unlocked luggage?

Doug,
Our first experience since this keeping your luggage unlocked was this past
August when we flew San Antonio to NYC. We had two large suitcases which we
wanted to check and two carryons. When we picked up our e-tickets, the
destination stickers were put on the handles and we were directed to a line
where the checked luggage was being handled. Ed had left our large suitcases
unlocked~when it was our turn, we asked if we could lock the suitcases after
they were inspected. The TSA agent asked us if we had any electronic
equipment in them~ we didn't, so she said for us to lock them and they were
sent through this huge X-ray machine. Then she sent us to the regular x-ray
line for our carry-on bags. Coming back from Bermuda, we put cable ties on
the zippers of bags while on the ship and checked them in at LaGuardia. None
of the bags had been opened and the cable ties were still in place when we
got home.

--Jean