Review of Brookstone TSA Locks

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zboss

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Please note that the first paragraph of this review is standard copy from Brookstones website for the product:

NEW Easycheck™ Luggage Locks

The luggage locks security won’t cut off. Our Easycheck™ locks are certified by Travel Sentry™ and feature a secure system accepted and recognized by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Airport security personnel can now inspect and re-lock your bags quickly and easily. Resettable four-dial combination lock provides additional security by allowing you to periodically change the combination. Sturdy, die-cast alloy construction provides excellent security and durability. Oversized dials and numbers are easy to see and operate.

I ordered two sets of locks (4 total) from Brookstone and they came yesterday. Their weight gives the appearance of being a fairly formidible lock (4.5 oz.); however after opening the locks in order to set the combination I found that the end of the lock loop (which is the part that goes into the lock base) did not have any kind of notch. I assume (and haven't tested so I may be wrong) that this is a potential issue... you might be able to pry the lock open. Besides that - it's a pretty standard lock (although I wish it came in black in order to match my bag and be less obvious). There is a four digit combination and the bottom features a key slot for the TSA.

I am unsure if the procedure for the tsa is to open the lock, do the search and then return the lock to the orginal location or to just put the lock inside the bag and then close the bag with the TSA notice. My bags get checked every single time I fly down to the islands so I'll let you know what happens.

Overall - I think this is a better option than zip ties. Let's face it - someone that is willing to open my bag and take whatever they want from the inside is probably willing to bring a knife or whatever in order to cut the ties. These locks will at least provide a little extra protection. I'm betting that someone isn't willing to be seen taking a huge bag out. I usually wrap my dive bag in a sachel I purchased for a few bucks for galyons (which I ran over with my car a couple of times and wrote on it with a black magic marker with things like "kilroy was here") in order to make it look like there is nothing of interest inside.
 
The locks may be "accepted and recognized by the Transportation Security Administration" whatever that means, but do all of the TSA folks nationwide have such a key to open it with?

Latch or no latch, if someone wants to get in, they will. :)
 
scubasean once bubbled...
..........

Latch or no latch, if someone wants to get in, they will. :)

My feelings exactly. Ever see a razor blade go thru the side of luggage? It doesn't get anywhere near that lock you have!
 
"Locks only keep honest people out."
 
All TSA inspectors have copies of the keys; worst case scenario is that I lost ten bucks to potentially save $2000. In any case Brookstone will replace your product if they cut it off. You are correct in saying that anyone that wants to get in will - I just like to make it hard for them!

scubasean once bubbled...
The locks may be "accepted and recognized by the Transportation Security Administration" whatever that means, but do all of the TSA folks nationwide have such a key to open it with?

Latch or no latch, if someone wants to get in, they will. :)
 
detroit diver once bubbled...


My feelings exactly. Ever see a razor blade go thru the side of luggage? It doesn't get anywhere near that lock you have!

It's true - that's why new luggage is being built using something similar to pac safe; sandwiched between the nylon is a steel mesh. It only slightly increases the weight. You can't slash that - period. As soon as one becomes available on the market - I'll pick that up.
 
Returning to the top....
Sounds like something you can make a wetsuit out of for shark dives! What ever happened with this "slash-proof" material for bags?
 
Whatever happened to peoples rights?
 
Unfortunately, these locks wont last long, I've gone through six of them in the past year and a half. Now, don't get me wrong, the locks themselves work fine and are well built, its just that TSA WILL cut them off and toss them (or open them with their master keys and then keep the locks for themselves or to sell later), either way you don't get them back and without the physically cut lock you don't get to claim the free replacement. Do a search on TSA approved locks and you will find this happens very regularly. Also, the TSA website itself tells you that these locks will be cut off if the TSA inspectors are too busy to open them with the key. This is what happens when we give up our freedoms and let a bunch of lasy, uneducated JBT's have this kind of un-oversited power!
 
I don't know - I have had mine since I posted the start of this thread and flown maybe a dozen times since. In each case, they have relocked my bags.

Here is the link to pacsafe:

http://www.pac-safe.com/

I bought one and placed it INSIDE my bag. If they cut the bag open, they still aren't getting anything.
 

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