How do I not get my luggage stolen at the airport?

How do I not get my luggage stolen at the airport? Baggage thieves often focus on bags that blend in, like ones that are plain black or gray. Don't put valuables in checked baggage. Moreover, if you must check in a bag at the gate, the department recommends you move those valuables into a personal item that you're still allowed to carry onto the plane.

How do I know if my suitcase has TSA lock?

Simply look for the 'Red Diamond'. Every lock that carries the Travel Sentry^® Approved mark is accepted by the TSA and other security agencies.

How does a TSA lock look like?

Travel Sentry products come with a bold red diamond logo on every product they produce. If you've purchased a TSA approved product through Safe Skies Luggage Locks, your lock will come with a red torch logo on the front instead.

What is the best way to lock luggage?

Should you lock your luggage with TSA?

If your bag is unlocked, then our officer will simply open and screen the baggage if any item alarms. However, if you decide to lock your checked baggage and TSA cannot open it through other means, then the locks may have to be cut. For soft-sided baggage, this process will not damage your zippers or zipper pulls.

Why not to use TSA locks?

Without access to a master key, baggage handlers, hotel staff and others in the luggage transport chain should not be able to open these locks. Yet that's the fatal flaw – the master key, or backdoor into a supposedly secure system.

How can I prevent luggage theft at the airport?

Can anyone open a TSA lock?

A TSA lock is one to which only TSA officials have a key. You set the combination yourself and, if a TSA agent has to look inside your bag because they see something suspicious on the scanner, it can be easily opened with their master key.

How common is luggage theft?

According to the Department of Transportation, luggage theft is a common problem. U.S. airlines reported more than three mishandled bags for every thousand in March. More than 1 million bags were stolen in 2018. It resulted in $1.2 billion in missing valuables.

How can I prevent my checked luggage from being stolen?

Keep checked luggage secure by using a TSA security padlock. The TSA has worked with several companies to develop locks that can be only opened by you and TSA security officers using universal “master” keys, so they do not have to cut locks when searching through luggage.

What is banned in checked luggage?

Explosives and flammable items such as fireworks, dynamite, and gasoline can pose an extreme safety risk to passengers and the aeroplane. Weapons and firearms, including guns, replicas, and ammunition, are prohibited in checked luggage to prevent any potential threat to the safety and security of passengers and crew.

What can airport scanners see in luggage?

There are usually five types of items that security officers look for. They are liquids, powders, batteries, sharp objects, and organic materials. Each of these can be detected by the baggage scanners. A TSA agent will likely pull any flagged baggage for manual inspection.

How can I make my luggage more secure?

What happens if someone steals your luggage at the airport?

Travelers who suspect they were a victim of stolen luggage should immediately notify their airline of the situation. A stolen luggage report can also be filed with the airport police, in the event your property is recovered on baggage handlers or other employees.