TSA approved luggage locks - Search Alert, TamperSeal, travel padlocks

LuggageLock.com - TSA approved locks and more!

We all sometimes need a little extra sense of security, but before you lock your bag, make sure it’s a TSA-accepted lock. TSA staff screen every bag before it’s placed on any airplane. While technology allows security personnel to electronically screen bags, there are times when they need to physically inspect a piece of luggage. If a bag is locked, TSa staff are allowed to cut the lock off. That’s where recognized locks come in. TSA has worked in partnership with several companies to develop locks which offer you personnel security without interrupting the security procedures currently in effect for all passengers. These locks are normally available at airports and travel stores nationwide, however, you can save money buy buying these locks online.

Before you buy a lock for your bag, make sure it's a TSA accepted one.

These days all checked bags are screened by the TSA, typically by going through a huge mini-van sized 3D X-ray type machine. If the machine thinks it might have seen something suspicious (and the machines have a high rate of 'false positives'), then someone has to open the bag and search through it to resolve the issue.

For this reason, the TSA have formerly been requiring all bags to be unlocked. And, if they came across a bag that had been locked, they'd have to destroy the lock so as to open the suitcase.

They have now agreed to allow suitcases to be built with special locks, and/or add-on special locks to be used with any suitcases - these locks have a dual keying system. One 'key' (either a physical key or a combination lock) belongs to the owner, and this key or combination has many different variations, so that your key is unlikely to unlock the next guy's suitcase as well as your own. But the second key is a 'master' key that only the TSA has and this master key can open all locks in that series. This means the TSA can now easily unlock and relock your suitcase if it needs to inspect it.

If the TSA does open your suitcase, it will insert a piece of paper that tells you they have done this. In theory, if someone else opens your suitcase, they will not insert one of the TSA slips.

If, when you get your bag back at the end of your flight, and the lock's indicator is red, you should immediately open it - at the airport. Check to see if anything is missing. If something is missing, and there is no TSA slip, go and see your airline's baggage claim desk. If something is missing and there is a TSA slip, go and see the TSA, or, if you're in a foreign airport, again see your airline's baggage claim people. Your ability to successfully claim for stolen items is greatly increased by the fact that you are making the claim as soon as you received your bag, and by the fact you can point to your lock and show that the telltale indicator is red, indicating someone has opened it.

TSA-Approved Locks

TSA Travel Tips

Travel with unwrapped gifts. If a wrapped gift sets off an alarm, TSA security officers will need to unwrap the gift to resolve the alarm.
To minimize the risk of damage or loss, don’t pack fragile or valuable items in checked baggage. Take them with you in carry-on baggage, or ship them to your destination instead.
Put undeveloped film in carry-on baggage because equipment used to screen checked baggage will damage film. Also, high-speed and specialty film should not be put through X-ray machines, so passengers may ask security officers at the checkpoint to physically inspect film.

Remember to put identification tags in and on all baggage including laptops. Everyone, even frequent fliers, should double check the contents of their pockets and bags, particularly carry-on luggage, to ensure no prohibited items were inadvertently packed.
Don’t over pack bags. If security officers have to open them, closing overstuffed bags can be difficult and may result in that checked bag being delayed until a later flight.
If TSA security officers need to open a locked bag for inspection, they may have to break the lock. If you choose to lock your bag, we recommend using a TSA-approved lock, which has a locking system that enables security officers to open and relock the bag.