TSA luggage locks

What TSA luggage locks are

TSA says it worked with several companies to develop locks its officers can open with universal master keys. The packaging says whether TSA can open the lock.

• Two marks: Locks follow one of two systems: Travel Sentry, marked with a red diamond, or Safe Skies.
• Who sets the rules: Under its agreement with TSA, Travel Sentry sets the standard for its locks and approves each design.
• Recognized, not required: Travel Sentry says a TSA lock is not legally required, but it recommends one for checked bags.
• Add-on or built in: A luggage lock can be a separate padlock, a lockable strap or a lock built into the suitcase.
• Who makes them: Travel Sentry licenses its system to over 500 brands; Master Lock, Forge, Talonport and Tumi all sell TSA locks.

How they work

A TSA lock has two ways in: your combination, key or card, and a small keyhole that fits only the screeners’ master tool.

• A code on the lock: Each Travel Sentry lock carries a code, such as TSA002, that tells officers which tool opens it.
• Open, check, relock: The officer opens the lock, inspects the bag and locks it again, without damage.
• A note inside: When TSA opens a bag, it leaves a Notice of Baggage Inspection inside.
• Inspection indicator: Some locks show red after a master key has opened them; only your code or key resets it.
• Resettable dials: Most combination TSA locks use three dials, 000 to 999; you press a reset button, often with a pen tip, to set your own code.
• The keyhole is not yours: Combination TSA locks come without keys; the keyhole is for security officers only.

Types

• Combination padlock: A rigid shackle and dials you set; Master Lock’s 4696D has four dials and 10,000 possible codes.
• Cable lock: A braided steel cable replaces the rigid shackle; Master Lock’s 4688D cable is 1/8 in (3 mm) thick.
• Keyed padlock: Opens with a small key; Forge’s OX 15011 four-pack is keyed alike, so every key opens every lock.
• Card-key lock: Talonport’s lock opens when you place a card the size of a credit card into it.
• Built-in lock: Suitcases with integrated Travel Sentry locks have been sold since 2004.
• Lockable strap: A strap around the whole case that closes with a lock.

What to look for

• The red diamond: Look for the Travel Sentry red diamond or the Safe Skies mark; Safe Skies says airport security clips ordinary locks.
• Four dials over three: Four dials give 10,000 possible codes; three dials give 1,000.
• Shackle thickness: The shackle must pass through both zipper pulls; a 1/8 in cable fits holes a 1/4 in shackle cannot.
• Shackle reach: A longer shackle, such as the 4696D’s 1-7/8 in, reaches around case latches and handles.
• Inspection alert: A red indicator tells you at baggage claim that a screener opened the lock.
• Body and guarantee: Zinc alloy or all-metal bodies last longer; Forge, Talonport and Safe Skies offer lifetime guarantees.
• Code, key or card: A code cannot be lost; keyed-alike locks let one key open every bag.

On the plane and on the trip

• Every bag is screened: TSA screens all checked and carry-on bags, usually by machine, and opens some by hand.
• Other locks may be cut: If TSA cannot open a lock by other means, it may cut it; TSA is not liable for that damage.
• Claims: You can file a claim for property lost or damaged during screening; many are denied when officers did not open the bag.
• Firearm cases: Firearms fly only in checked bags, in a locked hard-sided case; any lock is allowed, including TSA-recognized ones, and only you keep the key or code.
• Abroad: Travel Sentry says its system is used at 800 airports in 80 countries; Master Lock says its TSA locks are recognized in 29 countries.
• Baggage belts: TSA has shown 244 locks pulled from under one conveyor belt at a New York airport over a single month.
• Before you leave: Test a new combination before the trip and store it somewhere safe, such as your phone or email.

Limits and care

• Master keys are public: Photos of the Travel Sentry master keys spread in 2014; researchers say anyone can now copy them.
• 3D-printed keys: In 2015 Ars Technica printed the keys from files posted online and opened two Travel Sentry locks.
• Safe Skies too: In 2016 hackers showed a 3D-printable Safe Skies master key; PCMag concluded that all TSA locks could be opened.
• TSA’s own view: A TSA spokesperson called them “convenience products that have nothing to do with TSA’s aviation security regime.”
• Zippers are the weak spot: Ars Technica notes that most zippered luggage can be opened with a pen or screwdriver, locked or not.
• Easy to clip and pick: Luggage lock shackles are thin enough for bolt cutters, and pin-tumbler versions use only three or four pins.
• Forgotten code: Travel Sentry suggests trying 000 to 999 in order while gently pulling the shackle; it usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.

A short history

Travel Sentry was founded in 2003 to create luggage locks that U.S. screeners could open and relock instead of cutting.

• November 2003: The first Travel Sentry approved locks go on sale, as key and combination padlocks.
• 2004: The first suitcases with built-in Travel Sentry locks appear.
• 2014: A Washington Post article includes a photo of the master keys; the photo is removed but keeps spreading.
• September 2015: Ars Technica opens Travel Sentry locks with 3D-printed copies of the master keys.
• July 2016: Hackers show a 3D-printable Safe Skies master key at a New York conference.
• 2019: Over 500 million Travel Sentry locks and suitcases are in circulation.