Whenever the TSA cuts my locks (which is all the time), they re-lock the zipper with these plastic ties. You know, the kind that are used to bundle up extension cords. Not the twisty kinds but the ones where you can fix a specific diameter. Where can I buy these? Target? Home Depot?

Lawrence,

I just purchased a pack of 100 at Home Depot, I think the pack was $1.97. Hope this helps. Don't forget to pack something you can cut the tie with in an outside pocket of your suitcase.

Carolyn

The ties are available in the Electrical department. There are also some new type of locks where TSA has a special master key. They are at Brookstone.

The nice thing about the electrical ties that you can purchase at Home Depot etc. is that for a little extra money you can purchase a variety pack of flourescent colors. That's what we did with plans of using a different color each trip. It helps in finding your own luggage. The only drawback is that you have to have access to a knife or scissors to remove the bands to get into your luggage at the conclusion of your flight.

Nail clippers work great for cutting the ties.

Bob

We bought luggage ties at Brookstone. The "electrical" ties sometimes are too large for the loops on suitcases.

However, we usually just use regular locks. You just need to wait the minute for them to go through the scanner.

WAL-MART has them in the electrical dept. Very cheap. All sizes and colors. The luggage dept. also has the Amer Touristor space bags. Much cheaper than the dept store or luggage stores. <img border="0" alt="[12]" title="" src="graemlins/18.gif" />

I used them on a recent domestic trip. It's a big no-no to lock luggage because TSA will open it any way they can, if necessary. On return, I checked both my suitcase and carry-on with plastic seals. The seal was missing from my carry-on when I claimed my luggage and no note from TSA saying they opened my luggage. There was nothing missing, as far as I could tell. At least the seal let me know that it had been opened. BTW I used curb-side check-in on the return--don't know if that made any difference.

If you don't use curb side check in, you can lock your bags. They are only searched once by TSA. If you stand by to open your bag if necessary, they will not have to destroy the lock.

I have not flown since January 2003 when the very strict rules had just gone into place. At that time nail clippers were not allowed to be carried on. Are they now allowed? (We had flown to my sister's condo in Florida so we had scissors and knives available to us there.)

Kathy Z:

I'm not sure about nail clippers in carry-ons, but I've been putting them in an outside pocket of one piece of my checked luggage. Then, when we get to our destination, I can use them to "open" all the luggage ties.

I don't think anyone will steal the clippers out of an outside pocket - actually, you just need to remember where you put them - they are so small, they would be hard to find if you didn't know they were there!

Revlon now sells a set that includes nail clippers that is able to go through carryon security. Am trying it out next weekend for the 1st time.

Thanks everyone.

Re: the Brookstone TSA-certified locks. I've had no luck with them. I've bought them 3 times now and have had the TSA cut them each time. Has anyone used these without having them get cut?

As for cutting tools, I've successfully brought cigar cutters in my carry-on luggage. Cigar cutters do a nice job of cutting the plastic ties.

We sailed through with nail clippers in our carry on our 2 last flights...no problem.
I did get pulled out of security with a purse check because of a tin box of Altoids. I offered the TSA one, he declined. :D

Technically, if TSA opens your luggage that has plastic ties they SHOULD secure them again with their very own TSA plastic ties. There is actually a color coding protocal that they are expected to follow but that I have never seen used. I have my luggage opened all the time but have yet to see TSA replace my ties unless I am observing as my luggage goes through the machine and I offer them a spare tie or two from my personal cache. Usually, I just get their lovely note inside the case advising me that they've opened my case. The case/duffle/garment bag zippers are never completely closed after their inspections leaving big potential for garments, etc flying out of the bag..
Magellans.com (the best in service and travel goodies) has ties that you only need to yank to open. Also, the supposed TSA approved locks referred to above.
Always assume that all luggage will be opened and NOT secure afterwards.
For those unwilling to pay huge premium for Magellans or others cable ties the electrical ties work well. Do buy the flourescent ones particularly if travelling to 3rd world countries. "Normal"color ones are cut off and quickly replaced. With the bright ones, at least you know that your bags have been opened because they are not readily available around the world. Whether that makes you feel better if you've been ripped off is only dependent on your own individual sunny/cloudy personality.
Best,
Marianne

Marianne, welcome to the board! Are you planning any upcoming cruises?

Marcie

Susan had her nail clippers pulled at Heathrow on our Egypt trip so I guess it still depends on the airport.
Has anyone tried getting through with a needle? For sewing.

I saw an elderly ladies knitting needles confiscated at LAX shortly after 911....
I'm finally getting used to the plastic utensils in 1st and Business Class though it sure seemed strange (cheap) at first!

I saw the funniest thing in Atlanta. Supposedly, you can't carry on those types of nail clippers that have the swing out nail file on them. Well, they were selling them at a store that was AFTER security in the airport! So much for TSA effectiveness. And, as we all know, TSA makes up its own rules as it goes along. Nowhere in my military training did they teach me how to subdue several hundred people with a short nail file!

In any event, I have a whole bunch of plastic zip ties that I bought at Home Depot to put up some "puppy mesh" on our backyard fence, when our dogs were puppies so small they could otherwise just walk through the fence. It's a plastic jar full of different sizes of them ---- some of very narrow width so they would go through the zipper handle holes of any luggage.

In any event, once you get to your suite on a Radisson ship, you will most likely find a cheese knife already in your room that has a serated blade that will cut these ties.

Hope this helps,
Richard :) :) :)

Wondering if anyone has recent experience with the TSA "approved" locks. We were given Austin House Pocket Lockit locks which say that they are "travel sentry certified" and that TSA personnel are trained to recognize the lock and they have a "secured set of passkeys."

Anyone use these or similar locks? Were they removed by TSA or foreign equivalent? Were your bags still broken into because passkeys were not secured?

thanks,

We never lock our cases. Valuable items are in hand luggage. If someone risks stealing my Scotch they can have it. Also my mink-trimmed jock strap along with our clothing items !

LChoi98,

What I'm going to say can probaby be said for almost anything...

However, I'd suggest not being too confident in always getting through secruity with your cigar cutter. I had mine taken by security in the Kuwait International Airport. Now granted, Kuwait is in more sensitive part of the world ("sensitive" may be an understatement). Yet, when your favorite cutter gets taken by the three men with automatic weapons...well, you get the rest of the story...

Jan

Can't help with luggage locks as we don't lock ours........ but a reminder for any smokers who normally carry a lighter. I've packed mine in a checked suitcase before and been OK but have had it confiscated from my purse. Last time we flew I just put my Bic in my pocket and walked right through with no problem. Matches are fine to carry on.

Marc, we have used Sentry locks that we bought at Sharper Image on several flights. We have never had a problem with them at all.

Hi Betty,

As for your needle question....I do take needlepoint on all of my flights. I currently live in the UK and go home usually 6 times per year. Never have I been stopped for my tiny needles...and several times flight attendants stop to see what I am making! I have also bought a needle threader that also has a place to cut thread/yarn. (there is a tiny razer blade on the end of the threader), not obvious, about 1/8 inch in width. It works perfectly, and I love having my projects to pass the flight time. Most good needlepoint/sewing shops carry these. They now have a necklace that is actually a five sided cutter! I think "Keepsake Quilting" sells that on their website. Happy Sewing!
Cheers, Pam

Thanks Don!

I've used the cable ties now on three trips, they are great. I have an assortment of coloured ones. I have a nail clipper (without a nailfile in the middle, i.e., no sharp pointy thing). I keep it in the inside zipper compartment of my suitcase. So it's not in my carry-on, and it's instantly accessible to cut the ties when necessary. On top, when you put them on, leave a little slack in the loop so that you can cut them easily, then trip the ends off.