Last Updated: February 3, 2023
Can I Lock My Luggage On International Flights?
Traveling internationally and you’re wondering if you’re allowed to lock your suitcase? Then you’re definitely in the right place because this detailed guide will tell you all you need to know about locking luggage on flights.
What’s the practice with international flights, and domestic flights, and why TSA locks are mentioned everywhere are just some of the topics explored in this guide. Keep reading to learn more about the best luggage locks, and see what the best practice is to keep your belongings safe while traveling!
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Can I Put A Lock on My Luggage When Traveling?
Yes, you can put a lock on your luggage when traveling. Locking your luggage is perfectly acceptable on both domestic and international flights, and it’s even encouraged. Personally, I prefer to lock all my checked bags, just for peace of mind.
In the United States, the TSA makes it a public requirement for all checked bags to be openable. This is why TSA-friendly locks are extremely common in the US (and wider) – it still gives you peace of mind while traveling, but at the same time, airport security can open your luggage if they need to, and lock it up again without causing any damage.
What Type of Luggage Locks Can I Use?
You can use whatever type of lock you want, but it’s recommended to use a TSA-approved lock on your luggage. This is especially true for travel in the United States, but it doesn’t hurt to have a TSA lock on your checked bags even when traveling in Europe, Asia, or elsewhere.
The thing is, TSA agents have the right to open up any checked bag and check it for illegal contraband. If your luggage has a TSA-approved lock, they can just use the master key to open the luggage lock, and then lock it up again once they’re done.
If you don’t have a TSA-friendly lock, the agents still have the right to open your luggage using force. This means that they can quite literally ruin your suitcase if the luggage lock cannot be opened with their master key. So, if you want to be certain that you will arrive at your destination without a damaged suitcase, and with all your belongings still inside it, TSA luggage locks are the way to go.
What are TSA-approved locks?
TSA locks are luggage locks that are approved by the Transportation Security Administration. TSA agents are in possession of a master key that allows them to unlock any one of these locks, meaning they can get inside your suitcase without causing any damage to the locking mechanism or the body of the case.
A TSA-friendly lock is usually a standard three-digit combination lock. You can set up the combination to be anything you want when you first buy the luggage, just by following the instruction included with the bag.
There are also TSA-friendly padlocks, which are great for luggage that doesn’t have an integrated lock. TSA agents can just as easily open up these padlocks, so the risk of them damaging your luggage if they choose to inspect it is minimal.
The vast majority of modern luggage comes equipped with a TSA-friendly lock. Some very cheap suitcases don’t have it, but if you’re spending more than $100-150 on a suitcase and it has a lock, it will most likely have a TSA-approved lock.
Are TSA-approved locks safe to use?
TSA-approved locks are generally considered safe to use, but there is a debate on this topic. A few years ago, a photograph of the TSA master key was posted online. Although it was quickly removed, it stayed online long enough for it to go viral and this was cause for concern because it allowed virtually anyone to print their own TSA master key.
So, the locks technically aren’t perfectly safe, but you’d have to have incredibly bad luck to be targeted by someone who has a homemade TSA master key. The chances of that are truly minimal, so on a more global scale, these locks are perfectly safe to use.
They’re some of the safest locks on the market, especially the three-digit combination locks which are extremely difficult to open if you don’t know the combination.
Another thing to note is that it is possible to break into a TSA-approved lock. Anyone can guess the combination, but it takes quite a lot of time and effort. But again, the chances of this happening are smaller than the chances of you winning the lottery, and putting a different lock on your suitcase won’t do much to prevent it.
Are there any alternatives to TSA-approved locks?
Yes, there are many alternatives to TSA-approved luggage locks. There are padlocks, lockable belts, and about a dozen other things you can do to prevent people from trying to open your suitcase.
There are also countless other types of locks available for purchase at luggage stores, and you are allowed to put any type of lock you want on your luggage. But just know that if the security agents decide to open your suitcase, they will do it regardless of the type of lock on it.
If you’re just worried about protecting your luggage when traveling, one popular thing to do is to wrap the entire suitcase with plastic wrap.
This discourages most thieves for two reasons; one, it’s impossible for them to remove the plastic wrap, go through your belongings, and then put the wrap back in place without you noticing anything was wrong. And two, removing a thick layer of plastic wrap takes some time, which is a valuable resource that thieves usually don’t have.
Another thing you can do is get some zip ties and place them all over your suitcase. This also discourages thieves because they can’t remove the zip ties without you noticing, plus it can be a hassle if they don’t have access to a knife or scissors immediately.
Which other countries recognize Travel Sentry (TSA-Approved) Luggage Locks?
TSA locks are the standard in the United States and Canada, and they’re also recommended in some of the world’s busiest airports. This is the case with larger airports in Japan, South Korea, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Israel, Denmark, China, and many other countries.
However, only the US requires your luggage to be openable by airport security. Security agencies in other countries do not make this a public requirement, but it’s common knowledge that airport security retains the right to do this in virtually any country in the world.
But don’t stress too much because of this – airport security will only go through the checked luggage when they have reason to believe that the person is carrying illegal contraband. They’ll do this with people who they deem suspicious at the airport, and it’s not like they’re going through every single bag.
What if the country you are traveling to doesn’t have the key to open a TSA-Approved Luggage Lock?
If the airport security at your destination country does not have a TSA master key, they will treat the TSA-friendly lock on your luggage just like any other type of lock. This means that they can (and will) use force to open up your suitcase, so they’ll most likely cut out the lock entirely.
There are other ways to get inside a locked suitcase, and sometimes it’s enough just to stab the zipper with a ballpoint pen. So, if you want to avoid having this issue, it’s best to research what type of locks are used in the country you’re going to.
Or, even better, travel with just carry-on luggage. It gets screened at security anyway and it doesn’t leave your sight throughout the trip, so there’s really no reason to lock it in the first place.
Can I lock my luggage on domestic flights?
Yes, you can lock your luggage on domestic flights within the USA. Again, it’s recommended to use a TSA-approved lock on your luggage, especially for local flights in the USA because of airport security.
Is It Necessary to Lock Your Luggage When Traveling?
It’s definitely not necessary, but it is recommended if you want to have peace of mind when traveling. You never know who you are handing your bags to and what might happen to them – they could easily get lost or misplaced, and end up on the other side of the world. If your luggage isn’t locked, then anyone can go through your bag and steal whatever they want.
It’s not necessary to lock carry-on luggage in most cases because it never leaves your sight. But if you’re traveling on a very small airplane or it’s a very busy flight and you’re late, your carry-on might end up going in the cargo hold, in which case it’s not a bad idea to lock it for safety.
Also, it’s not a bad idea to lock your luggage if you’re leaving it in your hotel room for a while and you have valuable items inside.
You never know who could gain access to your hotel room, whether it’s someone with a key to your room or a thief who goes in through the window, but you can be certain that they will want to leave as few traces as possible. A locked suitcase will usually discourage them, which is why it’s smart to keep all your valuable possessions under lock and key.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
