Is this true? You can't have dial lock luggage......

I am flying from NYC to Las Vegas Saturday, it's been a while since I have flown any where .......So a friend of mine was just telling me they don't allow locked luggage anymore, is this true? I have been misled by him before . This is a work trip and don't want any complications, but this is what I have and can't afford to spend money on something new!

Go to the airline's website on which you are traveling and do a search.

Have fun!!!!

As long as the dial lock is TSA approved, no problem - (that means TSA can open it with their special key) The majority of NEW dial locks for luggage sold today are TSA approved, but make sure it is a current one, and that it has a logo on it.

The TSA has to be able to open any luggage to inspect it. They will cut or damage locks to do it. However, there are special luggage locks available that they can open. You can find them at places like Target or travel shops.

I'm definitely not trying to hide anything, but it has been that long since I have traveled via air! My good luggage was my aunt's luggage ($) from the 70's, ofcourse with a dial lock........

Originally Posted by cheylink

I'm definitely not trying to hide anything, but it has been that long since I have traveled via air! My good luggage was my aunt's luggage ($) from the 70's, ofcourse with a dial lock........

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Oh... I see... The luggage itself has a dial lock? Yes, it has to go on the unlocked position, up to the point to when you hand it off to the x-ray guys. From then on they will lock it for you. otherwise they WILL break the locks.

Will they really break the locks or could it go either way? There have been times when my luggage has been definitely messed with, but other times I get and it's clear it hasn't been touched...so it makes me wonder if they always open luggage or if it's done randomly.

Originally Posted by ut0pia

Will they really break the locks or could it go either way? There have been times when my luggage has been definitely messed with, but other times I get and it's clear it hasn't been touched...so it makes me wonder if they always open luggage or if it's done randomly.

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Not randomly- it depends on what they see on the x-ray.
They will ask you if the bag is locked, and they will check if it is locked. If it is locked, they will break it.
They will not open all of them, but a locked bag raises a big red flag. Every time you hand them a bag, they ask you question, if there are flammables, fire arms, etc etc, and if the bag is locked. If it is, and is not a TSA approved locker (which a 1970 locker was not) they will break it. so, just make sure you give them the bag unlocked. You can ask them to lock it afterwords, but usually they do.
You can also use a TSA locking strap around your bag, this way only the TSA people can open, and it is locked for everybody else...
PS: I traveled for work, extensively, probably 2-3 times a week for many years... Never locked my luggage, never had a problem. I had problems with lost luggage, but a locker wouldn't make any difference in those cases anyways... Just take valuables on your hand luggage and you are good to go...

Don't lock your luggage. A friend of mine made that mistake one time. They didn't cut the lock, they cut through the suitcase next to the zipper to open it. She lost half of its contents and there was nothing she could do about it as she was instructed to leave it unlocked.

It's not an airline policy but an airport security policy.

I had a case broken into once, when the policy was new and I didn't know about it. And then when I left a case unlocked I had a load of stuff stolen. So I am glad to know that now there are special approved locks.

I have flown a LOT (including international), like since I was born. I can tell you that you are NOT allowed to lock your luggage. They need to be able to easily access the contents of your baggage if need be. They are famous for doing random searches through random people's stuff (they did that to me- had my underwear and bras and stuff all over a table for EVERYONE in the airport to see.) It has nothing to do with each individual airline- so don't waste your time checking with your airline to see if they allow locks. It's more of a security thing. What I always use (no matter what type of luggage I have) is those strap-thingy's that go around the suitcase to keep it closed. I've never had a problem with my luggage- except for them "losing it" or little tears and stuff from rough handling. I can talk with my dad, who is the one that is constantly traveling around the world for his job (regional manager of a logistics company). I'm pretty sure that he will say the exact same thing that I am saying.

I just use the little orange security tags. My old bag was one that latched closed, and when it got to the point where it had to be locked to ensure it would stay closed, I had to get rid of it, because I knew TSA would have to damage the entire case if they wanted to inspect it.

My new bag is a zipper bag and I close it with the little tags. The one time I didn't check the tags, was the one time I got home and went to open it and realised the tags had been broken. Inside was a note from TSA saying they screened my baggage.

If the tags had been broken (particularly for an international flight) I had planned to open my suitcase at the airport in front of someone who worked there to be sure nothing had been put in there that shouldn't have been.