I was planning on using the strong plastic tie wraps used to bundle electrical wires as locks on my suitcases.

My question is, how do I cut them off once I arrive, if I am no longer able to carry my Swiss Army tiny scissors or knife in my carry on?

Are "round point" scissors (like kindergarten children use) allowed in a carry on?

What do you do?

 

There had been a lot of discussion about this already on the Travelbuzz forum. Open it, then click on search (upper right corner) and just search for "lock bags" or so.

Nothing that is strong enough to cut through plastic ties is allowed to be carried on. But most bags have sidepockets or so, where you can put it. For a suitcase without it, well, ask in any airport restaurant to use a knife real quick. Hotels also own scissors.... something you can do during checkin. I usually travel with a rolling suitcase and a duffel bag, so I have in the duffle bag something to cut the plastic ties (which I use for years even before locks were not allowed anymore)

 

A good toenail clipper--these are legal in carry-on--will snap those plastic locking ties in a jiffy. I've done it many times.

 

I don't lock my luggage. I figure any thief can break the lock easily so what's the point (also, I used to lose those *%! little keys that went w/ the locks & would have to break the lock myself!).

------------------
Sharon

 

I've been using those ties for awhile and it makes me feel good to know that I've at least tried to lock it. I take a nail clipper with me, either in an unlocked but zippered part of the bag being checked (defeats the purpose if its locked inside) or with my carry-on stuff. I don't want to make it too easy for someone to open up my case and go through the contents.

This is particularly true after one TSA person opening my checked bag for no reason (it passed the test) made it clear that she can do whatever she wants and open any bag she feels like opening --- it was not a happy scene -- and for some reason, she couldn't understand why I stood there and watched her until it was all closed up and back on the belt. She and her friends kept telling me to trust them and they'll take care of it -- you have got to be kidding!!