A luggage lock is a device used to keep your luggage secure. It is a good idea to use a luggage lock while traveling in order to prevent the contents of your luggage from accidentally being spilled. A luggage lock also helps ensure that no one accidentally or intentionally opens your luggage, which can result in your items being lost or stolen. Furthermore, individuals who steal luggage from airports, train stations, and bus stations are less likely to take a bag with a luggage lock,because it is more difficult to gain entry to the contents.
When selecting a luggage lock, there are several different styles to choose from. The first decision you need to make is whether you want a luggage lock that opens by key or by combination. A luggage lock requiring a key can be somewhat inconvenient, because it requires you to carry the key in order to unlock your luggage. At the same time, a combination luggage lock requires memorizing a combination. For some individuals, this can be inconvenient. In addition, those who do not travel frequently may forget their combination after not using the luggage for a period of time.
If you intend to travel within the United States, you must also consider the stringent airport inspections that take place throughout the country. If you attempt to load a piece of luggage with a luggage lock onto an airplane, you run the risk of having the luggage lock broken by an inspector who needs to get inside your luggage to inspect it. For this reason, many travelers are choosing to use a luggage lock approved by the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The TSA luggage lock is designed to be easily opened with special tools created by the TSA to correspond to these locks. In this way, inspectors can easily bypass the luggage lock and inspect the contents of any luggage that they may find to be suspicious or that needs to undergo a routine check. After the inspection is complete, the luggage lock is secured once more. This special luggage lock can be purchased through Safe Skies Locks or Travel Sentry.