I’ve been reading travel tips, and many of them say to use some kind of luggage lock either on the flight and/or in the hotel. I’ve taken multiple unlocked trips with no theft issues. What do people think about locks? Your input in the poll and below could help me decide whether to get a lock or continue to go lockless.
I have a TSA approved lock and use it during the flight and at other times
I have a TSA approved lock but don’t use it during the flight, just at other times
I have a non TSA lock and don’t use it during the flight, just at other times
I just use the hotel provided safe
I don’t use the hotel safe or lock my luggage
Other, explanation below
I don’t travel or have an opinion on the topic but just want to vote
I have a TSA-approved lock and use it on luggage when it is not under my control, either in airline-checked baggage or with hotel bell services (like if the hotel holds luggage for me before hotel check-in or after hotel check-out).
When I leave the hotel room, I put valuables in the hotel safe (extra cash, spare wallet, passport, etc.).
Most of my suitcases have combination locks, and I sometimes use them for flights. I have no idea whether or not the locks are “TSA-approved”. I suppose that must be an American thing that doesn’t figure into the marketing where I bought the suitcases.
I can’t imagine any suitcase lock that would deter a determined thief. I have some short metal cables that screw together to form a loop I use to seal my luggage when checking it for a flight, but that’s more about preventing it coming open by accident.
I’m of the mindset that if it isn’t locked down, it will grow legs and walk away.
The non-TSA lock is for when we road trip in the convertible. I lash a cable to the car so it’s not easy for someone to grab the bag and run away with it. I make sure the cable and lock are clearly visible, to tell would-be thieves, “This one won’t be easy so go steal from another car.” I also used this setup on my long motorcycle trips.
My logic is the chance of me forgetting my stuff in the safe is an order of magnitude larger than having it stolen from my room.
I’ve stayed at countless hotels all over the planet and never had anything stolen, I have however left a shit ton of stuff, some valuable some not, in hotels, Airbnbs, etc over the years.
I used to travel a lot internationally, and had things stolen out of my luggage, especially when traveling through Central and South America for some reason. When I stopped traveling internationally I stopped using the lock, since it was a pain to deal with, and never had a problem with theft since.
I usually travel with a small combination lock, and if I’m sharing with someone I don’t know, like in a hostel dorm, I’ll put my passport and laptop in a locker. It wouldn’t occur to me to lock up regular luggage, though, or to use a lock on checked luggage. (I figure if someone REALLY wants my dirty laundry, they can have it, and I wouldn’t put anything valuable in checked luggage anyway because the odds of it getting lost are too high.)
I don’t lock up anything, but I try not to take anything while traveling that I can’t afford to lose. I operate entirely out of my luggage, nothing ever goes in a drawer. Anything I do take out of my bag that doesn’t go on me or not go right back into the bag, like a charger block and cord for example, gets written down on a little clipboard that I cross off when getting ready to check out.
Yes, TSA (Transportation Security Administration) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with authority over the security of transportation systems within, and connecting to, the United States.
Here’s a link explaining their approved locks: 14 best TSA-approved locks for luggage security | CNN Underscored
Our suitcases all have combination locks built-in. But, there is a small keyhole which I assume is for TSA (?) to unlock the thing should they decide to do an inspection. We do lock them when checking a bag. In a hotel room we typically do not lock the bag, but will zip it closed. We, too, do not bring anything really valuable that could not be easily replaced. My wife has a nice camera, but that has been with us while we are away from the room.
When I check luggage, I put a TSA approved lock on it. In hotel rooms I mostly put my valuables in the safe. If I’m staying in a place without a safe (mountain huts, AirBnB, etc) I’ll keep my passport and valuables on my person when I go out.
I don’t lock my carryon suitcase unless it gets checked at the gate.
There is no security system that will stop absolutely 100% of miscreants. But most hotel room burglars want two things:
to be in and out of your room quickly, and
to not be seen, especially on camera, hauling away your personal property.
Leave your laptop on the nightstand? Easy for a thief to slip under his jacket while he walks out. Lock it in a suitcase? It’ll take him time to get into the suitcase (for an uncertain payoff, since he doesn’t know what’s in there), and he won’t be able to conceal your suitcase while he lugs it down the hall. There are no guarantees, but he’s more likely to take a pass if your valuable stuff is locked in a suitcase, even with a shitty TSA lock.
True for most folks, I imagine. I’ve covered a couple hundred thousand miles on my motorcycle, and I’ve never crashed, so my helmets have all been a waste of money so far. But I’m gonna keep wearing one.
It’s not my intention to be militant about something like this, but if a $5 lock can save me from a major loss during what is supposed to be a pleasant vacation, that seems like it might be a good investment, even allowing for the hassle of actually taking the time to use the lock I spent $5 on.
Yes. a “TSA-approved” lock is one that can be opened by particular set of keys that only the TSA used to possess. I say “used to” because there was a news piece about a decade ago that featured a good-quality image of those keys…good enough to enable people to make copies.
I suspect most hotel room thieves won’t have bothered obtaining copies of TSA keys, but a few will, which means that screw-up shrunk the pool of thieves who can be thwarted by a TSA lock.
TSA-approved locks may be combination locks or keyed, but also have a keyhole that will open the lock using a TSA master key. This is so the TSA security personnel can open your checked bags to inspect them before an airline flight that originates in the U.S.
If you don’t use TSA locks, they will cut them off (that is, non-TSA locks) when they inspect your bags.
This is exactly my approach when on a bicycle tour - deterrence is probably 90% of the battle - when some thief sees my bike with a thin cable thru the wheels and a padlock, they move on to easier pickings. The cable could, of course, be cut with a standard bolt cutter, but so far my cable has never been cut. This is probably the same for any piece of locked or even zipped-closed luggage in a hotel room - too much trouble, look for easier target.
We’ve had stuff stolen from our hotel room and by our feet at a restaurant. Friends have been pickpocketed. Rick Steves sometimes shows video of pickpockets at work. Fellow travelers’ bags have been taken. Four colleagues who shared a room at a conference had all their wallets, phones, and laptops stolen even though they all report checking the door when they left. Theft on trains is a known thing. I’ve stopped it a couple of times by putting myself between a tempting backpack or bag and the sticky fingers inching toward it. Theft from unlocked carry-on bags in the overhead bins during night flights is a known thing. People slipping contraband into someone’s bag is a known thing.
A lock, TSA or otherwise, won’t prevent theft, but dissuades it because it slows down the action. My goal is to reduce crimes of opportunity by making my stuff unappealing.
You’ve nailed the key point. A skilled and determined thief can get into your bag if they choose to. They can break into a bank vault if they’re determined.
Locks and cables are merely a deterrent. You want to communicate to a would-be thief, “This won’t be as easy as another person’s bag that isn’t locked down. Go get that one.”
Most crimes are crimes of opportunity. If you present an easy target, that will likely be taken instead of one that is locked down.