Should I Lock My Luggage When I Fly?

You might worry, "Should I have locked my luggage?" every time you leave your suitcase to the mercies of airline baggage handlers and TSA agents. "In fact, JFK International Airport was once classified as a "flea market for airport staff," with reports alleging that more than 200 goods are taken from travellers' checked luggage every day," according to research by Stratos, a private jet charter company.

As a result, it's evident that you can't rely on the TSA to compensate you for such damages; more than half of the claims were denied. Is it possible to use luggage padlocks as a solution? Here are the main points:

1. Luggage padlocks' advantages

2. Luggage padlocks have limitations

3. Luggage padlock alternatives

1. Luggage padlocks' advantages

Locking your suitcase makes it more difficult for shady baggage handlers or airport security personnel to rummage through your belongings. A lock can also keep your bag's zippers closed throughout transit, preventing them from leaking socks and underwear all over the baggage carousel. If you're sleeping in a hostel with strangers or taking a packed bus or train, you might wish to lock your bag. Some vacationers even lock their baggage in hotels during the day to protect housekeepers from stealing them.

2. Luggage padlocks have limitations

Putting a lock on your suitcase does not ensure that your belongings will be secure. If you search YouTube for "how to open a combination lock without the code" or "how to break into a locked bag with nothing but a ballpoint pen," you'll find a plethora of videos. Cutting through a soft-sided bag is also not difficult. Locks stop casual thieves, who will move on to easier targets, but they provide only thin protection against those who are hell-bent on stealing your bag.

As a result, any valuables should always be kept in your carry-on luggage rather than your checked luggage. As previously stated, if something is taken from your checked bag, the TSA is unlikely to compensate you, and airlines rarely assume culpability for the loss of valuable items such as jewellery, technological equipment, or fragile mementos.

3. Luggage padlock alternatives

Zip ties are another option for securing your suitcase, and they're cheap enough that you won't mind if the TSA needs to cut them off. Just remember to keep a small pair of scissors in one of your suitcase's outer pockets.

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