TSA Cutting off TSA Approved Luggage Locks Instead of Using Pass Keys

Brinks TSA Approved Travel Sentry Lock Cut by TSA
This TSA accepted Travel Sentry lock was cut by TSA rather than opening the lock with a TSA pass key.



In an ongoing and highly successful effort to violate your privacy and generally show you who's boss, the TSA likes to rummage through your checked bags when you fly on an airplane. Since people do not like having things stolen from their luggage when traveling, many people choose to lock their bags with simple luggage locks. Sure, these little locks will not stop a determined thief, but they serve as a minor deterrent or at least slow the thief down a bit. The problem comes in when the TSA wants to snoop around in one of these locked bags. If the TSA cannot easily get into a bag, they will open it using whatever means necessary. They will cut the lock, break the zipper, slice, pry, or anything else. If the TSA wants to get into your luggage, they will. Damage to your property is inconsequential to the TSA.

To solve this issue, the lock industry developed a broad selection of TSA accepted luggage locks. These Travel Sentry locks bear the standard red and white diamond logo to indicate the lock is TSA accepted. These locks also include a pass key feature that allows TSA employees to unlock a bag for inspection and then re-lock the bag once the inspection is complete.

Red and White Diamond Travel Sentry Logo on TSA Approved Lock
This Brinks TSA accepted lock prominently displays the industry established red and white diamond Travel Sentry logo on the front and back of the lock.  The Travel Sentry logo indicates the lock can be opened with a standard TSA pass key. This lock was cut by the TSA and placed inside the inspected luggage along with a TSA baggage inspection notice.

The system makes sense, and it should work fairly well. This does not seem to be the case, however. A simple Internet search reveals there is currently a massive problem with the TSA cutting off TSA approved luggage locks.

Why would the TSA do this? Why would they cut off luggage locks they could easily open with a standard TSA pass key?

The answer is simple. TSA employees are generally lazy, stupid, apathetic, and/or unaccountable. Think about it. Which is easier for a lazy TSA baggage screener: getting out the TSA pass key, opening a lock, taking it off, putting it aside, and then re-locking the bag after inspection or simply snipping off a little luggage lock in a couple of seconds? Why should the TSA baggage screener care? He does not have to face you. He does not have to worry about the contents of your now unsecured luggage. He does not have to buy a new luggage lock. If someone chooses to slip a package of illegal drugs into your unlocked luggage to get it through security, the TSA screener does not get arrested. Those are all your problems.

Keyhole for TSA Pass Key (Code TSA007) on Brinks TSA Approved Travel Sentry Lock
Travel Sentry locks provide dedicated keyholes to accept TSA pass keys. Code TSA007 is the reference code for the TSA. The TSA decided to cut this particular lock rather than use the provided TSA access keyhole.

So, if you are traveling and you see the value in locking your bags, what are your options?

1) You can spend the extra money for a TSA accepted Travel Sentry lock and hope the lazy apathetic morons at the TSA choose to use the pass key when they want to play around in your suitcase full of socks and underwear.

2) You can buy cheap luggage locks and just absorb the loss when the TSA cuts them.

3) You can use zip ties to secure your bags and bring along fingernail clippers to cut the ties if the TSA has not already cut them for you. (You will just have to hope the TSA does not steal or confiscate the fingernail clippers.)

As you can see, there really are no good options. The TSA's disregard for the personal property of innocent people has added a new aggravation to the nightmare that commercial air travel has become. So, lock up those bags and hope things work out.

When things go wrong, you can file a claim for damaged property with the TSA, but that is probably going to cause a lot of frustration, waste time, and get no results. The best solution is probably to make a bunch of noise, post photos and stories online, etc. until you feel better. We have seen the TSA does at least care a tiny bit about bad public relations. You might also want to complain to your Congressman. Sure, your Congressman is not going to care about one TSA approved luggage lock getting cut. If, however, your Congressman gets dozens of complaints each week, maybe someone with influence will pay attention and address the problem.

The real problem here is the TSA. If we, as travelers, take the time and effort to invest in special expensive locks the TSA can easily open, the TSA should have the decency to make travel tolerable for us by taking a little extra effort to use the provided pass keys. If the TSA had any shred of respect or concern for the people it is supposed to protect, this luggage lock issue would not be much of a problem.