TSA and VS take turns in wrecking my case

[Decker]

Yes - I teach them to program not hack. TSA personnel struggle to keep up with their own rules and regulations. Teaching them a manual skill such as this would likely prove difficult.

Originally posted by p17blo

Originally posted by Decker
I don't believe that it is reasonable to teach TSA personnel to pick locks.

Why not? There are tools for picking locks, locksmiths use them (as well as theives). Do you teach your staff to use the correct tools for the job?

Paul

It's becuase you locked your case and didn't follow the rules, therefore you are assumed guilty, and who cares if they totally screw your case up in the process.

What worries me is that I don't tend to use the combi lock on my case but how many times have i gone to open the case only to find it locked, probably by accident in transit. Therefore i am guilty of some terrible crime and deserve to have my case ruined with hammer and screwdriver, with no comeback on anybody.

Originally posted by PVGSLF
It's becuase you locked your case and didn't follow the rules

Rules!? I get what you mean but as I said before just because it has been happening for 5 years doesn't make it right. I have a rule saying that anyone who damages my case must replace it. So TSA haven't followed my rules!

I deal with people daily who do not follow the 'guidelines', 'rules' or whatever else you want to call them. I don't deliberately damage their property because of it.

I can open my case when locked without the need of permanently damaging the lock. If I can do it, untrained and without dedicated tools why can't they.

Paul

[Decker]

Originally posted by p17blo

I can open my case when locked without the need of permanently damaging the lock. If I can do it, untrained and without dedicated tools why can't they.

Paul

So you lock it for some kind of fun rather than any putative deterrent effect? [:p]

[Scrooge]

I to have my rules, one of them being that everyone in the world has to send me $5 so I can buy a mid size island in the middle of the Pacific ocean and declare myself king, will it happen...nope...will you lock your suitcases again if you travel to the States..hope not.

Listen im sorry that your case was damaged, both by the TSA and the luggage people, but the FACT still remains that the rules are dont lock your case, YOU decided to lock them knowing that the TSA agents were going to get in it one way or another so at some point you have to take responsibility for your actions.

IMHO VS are the ones getting shafted here, if the wheel was damaged by them then yes they have to take care of it, but the locks being broken is your fault and your fault only.

[HighFlyer]

To be fair (and play Devil's advocate a little), a lot of insurance companies state that your insurance is void if you do not lock your cases. I had this with my old insurer, they advised me that if i didnt lock my case i couldnt make a claim. They did say that if i locked them and the TSA broke the locks that i could claim for the cost of a replacement through them though, and just urged me to lock the cases as i had been doing. However, the reassurance of a new case isnt that soothing when you have to fill in the claim paperwork.

I havent locked my checked cases for the past few trips. When i had my Samsonite spinners i used to lock them. They are on the TSA approved list and the locks sill came back buggered on more than one occasion. Ability and sensibility with the TSA are obviously entirely different notions.

Thanks,
Sarah

2 of our bags were recently opened on our flight back from MCO. I wouldn't have know if it wasn't for the TSA note inside. They opened the locks (TSA combination ones!) and closed them both again.

For those of you just wanting a TSA approved padlock before you travel to the States http://www.nomadtravel.co.uk/store/customer/product.php?productid=21445

Originally posted by Decker

Originally posted by p17blo

I can open my case when locked without the need of permanently damaging the lock. If I can do it, untrained and without dedicated tools why can't they.

Paul

So you lock it for some kind of fun rather than any putative deterrent effect? [:p]

No. As I said I lock it simply to stop any knock to the case popping open the locks and spilling the contents everywhere.

Do keep up:D:D:D:D:D

Paul

Originally posted by jetwet1
I to have my rules, one of them being that everyone in the world has to send me $5 so I can buy a mid size island in the middle of the Pacific ocean and declare myself king, will it happen...nope...will you lock your suitcases again if you travel to the States..hope not.

which actually agrees with what I was trying to say. Just because someone make up some stupid rules doesn't meen I have to follow them. And no I am not an anarchist!:D

Originally posted by jetwet1
IMHO VS are the ones getting shafted here, if the wheel was damaged by them then yes they have to take care of it, but the locks being broken is your fault and your fault only.

I didn't say the locks being broken were the fault of VS, that is quite the opposite of what I have been saying. But it is not my fault either. It is the fault of the moron who attacked my bag with a screwdriver and a hammer.
Will I do anything about? Probably not, but it won't stop me thinking that the TSA and their staff could be doing more to protect personal belongings whilst still maintaining travellers safety. Will it stop me locking my case? Definately not. I am not prepared to have my case spring open mid flight.

Paul

[Decker]

Sorry Paul - you are of course right Enjoying this way too much