全球主要的箱包和旅行配件制造商都已经在他们的箱包产品上采用了旅安商标（Travel Sentry®），以符合TSA的要求。
航空公司的检录员也已经过培训并识别该旅安商标，了解带有该商标的旅行箱是可以上锁的。
如果需要的话，TSA安检员有着特殊的工具可以打开该箱包进行开箱检查。
带有旅安商标的产品在全球范围的很多零售店均有销售，包括一些世界最大的零售商。您也可以在网上采购到该产品。
点击寻找商场可以帮助您在您的附近找到旅安认证的产品 .
市面上有着1000多种不同的TSA锁，并不是所有的锁的工作原理都是一样的。但是大部分锁设置密码的步骤是一样的。
这里列出一些给密码锁设置或重置密码的窍门。
请确认锁的密码轮排列于“正确”的位置上。这个“正确”的位置通常有垂直的圆点或“窗口”作为标记。密码锁的初始密码通常“默认”为0-0-0或0-0-0-0。
当给挂锁重设密码时，您可以尝试各种方向压下锁钩，使锁出于重设密码的状态（通常是从上锁方向转90度或180度）。有些锁要求先按下锁钩，然后将其转到重设密码的位置――没有将锁钩完全转到位往往是密码设置错误最大的原因。
当给钢丝锁或织带锁重设密码时，一定要确认您已经将重设按钮或柄按到底了方可改动密码。
当然可以。目前只有美国TSA会通知乘客，如果他们的行李箱在需要被检验时却上锁了，将会被强行开箱检验，除非他们用的是旅安认证的锁。如果您经常出国，您也可以用旅安锁锁您的任何行李，以保护您的财产和保证您放松的心态。
当您离开美国时，TSA安检员可以检查您的包并重新上锁。无论您在何处旅行，您都可以使用旅安锁来保护您的财物。
当您乘飞机进入美国，并转乘美国国内航班，您首先会经过海关检查。当你通过海关时，您的行李也会接受再次检查并转到您的下一航班上。TSA会在此时扫描您的行李，如果您的行李有旅安锁，他们就可以打开锁，检查后再重新上锁，并送回您的航班。
如果该锁是被TSA撬开的，它会被放回您的行李，并随附一张该行李的检验通知。如果您发现您的包内有此通知并且您的旅安锁被撬坏了，请立即与卖这个锁给您的公司联系，您将获得免费更换。
如果您确认该锁不是被TSA损坏的，那么您需要立即向您的航空公司投诉。有些锁是由于航空公司的粗暴搬运或在传送带上被损坏的。这种投诉是有期限限制的，所以请马上进行。
如果您忘记了密码，很不幸，并没有简单的方法可以开锁或者给锁重设密码。或许一些行李箱修理工或职业锁匠会知道怎么解决这个问题。在美国您可以在美国行李箱商会 的网站上寻求帮助，查询离您最近的行李箱专卖店。
如果您忘记了密码，很不幸，并没有简单的方法可以开锁或者给锁重设密码。或许一些行李箱修理工或职业锁匠会知道怎么解决这个问题。在美国您可以在美国行李箱商会 的网站上寻求帮助，查询离您最近的行李箱专卖店。
锁在旅行过程中损坏，可能有两种原因造成的：
行李箱传送系统（传送带或其它自动系统）和人工搬运都可能损坏您的行李箱和锁。航空公司将承担超出“正常磨损”范围的损失。请立即向您的航空公司投诉。
TSA安检员每天都要检查两百多万件行李。使用旅安公司提供的工具来打开旅安锁要比将锁剪断来得快并容易得多。但是，虽然极少碰到但是有时候也会有个把旅安锁可能有损坏或遇到某种故障，TSA安检员也只能将锁剪断。如果碰到这种情况，TSA将不会对损坏您的锁负责。
在您的行李内寻找一下TSA的行李检查通知。如果您的锁被损坏了，并且有一张TSA的通知在行李内，请与您购买的品牌联系。在这种情况下，大多数加盟旅安系统的品牌商都会给您更换新锁。
如果并没有TSA的通知，那就有可能是航空公司搬运造成的损坏。请立即向您的航空公司投诉。
可能有两种原因导致您的锁的丢失：
通过与TSA的合作，旅安公司发现锁的丢失大多都是因为航空公司的搬运造成的。当行李被装上传送带时，或者当自动传送系统的推送行李时的离心力，都有可能把锁扯掉。通常最易断的部位是锁连接在包上的拉链头，并不是锁自身的原因。旅安公司建议购买行李箱时挑选加强的拉链头，以降低搬运过程中造成损坏的可能性。如果是航空公司搬运造成的原因，请立即向您的航空公司投诉。
也有一些原因是TSA安检员为了开箱检查造成的。在您的行李内寻找一下TSA的行李检查通知。如果有这份通知，并且您的锁已丢失，请联系您购买该产品的 品牌。大多数加盟旅安系统的品牌商都会给您提供新锁。
Less than 1% of the four million pieces of airline baggage checked every day are "lost." The bad news is that this means that up to 40,000 bags may be mishandled daily. The good news is that most of these will be located and returned to their owners within 24-36 hours.
What can you expect your airline to do for you?
FIND – The last airline you traveled with on your itinerary is responsible to locate your baggage. If you arrive at your destination, and your checked baggage does not, go immediately to the airline baggage services office in the arrivals area and file a claim with your airline.
DELIVER – If the airline was responsible for losing your bag the airline will usually deliver it to you at their expense.
INTERIM EXPENSES – Also known as "First Needs" or "Out of Pocket" expenses. Very few airlines will offer to cover the costs of items you need while your baggage is lost. Usually you have to ask. You are more likely to be compensated if you flew in First or Business Class, or are an elite member of the airline's frequent flier program. If you are arriving at your "home" airport most airlines will refuse interim expenses.
Why do bags go missing?
Well over half of all baggage which is reported as "lost" is actually baggage which did not make the transfer between connecting flights. Most of these bags are delivered on later flights. Some airlines and some airports are much better at managing this problem than others.
Other reasons baggage goes missing include:
The bar code baggage tag could not be read by the automated airline baggage handling system and the baggage was delayed due to "manual" handling. Often more than15% of these tags can not be read by the automated "readers".
The baggage missed the originating flight because the passenger checked-in late, the baggage was delayed in security screening (often because a non-TSA lock was used), or the airline accidentally left the bag behind.
A small percentage of bags go missing when taken in error by another passenger at the baggage claim area. Protect yourself. Put distinctive markings, tags, ribbons or tape on your bag. Make yours look different.
Damaged baggage is an unfortunate fact of travel. The airlines typically view baggage as a container meant to protect your belongings during travel. This is why they take no responsibility for "normal wear and tear" to baggage; similar to the post office who takes no responsibility for soiled or torn packages.
Here is what most airlines consider "normal wear and tear"
Broken wheels or feet
Lost pull straps
Minor cuts and scratches
Damage resulting from over packing
Damage to retractable baggage handles
Fragile or perishable items damaged during transport
Items unsuitably packed or unsuitable for transportation
Damage resulting from Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections
That still leaves a number of cases where damage is beyond wear and tear, is not normal, and is a direct result of poor handling by the airline. As always, it is best to report this damage to the airline immediately (before you leave the airport) and always within 24 hours.
What can you expect your airline to do for you?
DAMAGE – If the airline accepts responsibility for damaging your bag the airline will usually take responsibility for repairing it for you. Often this is done at a central repair facility so you may be without your bag for some time while repairs are made.
REPLACEMENT – Often it is easier and cheaper for the airline to simply replace your bag. You may need to negotiate with the airline to avoid being given a "generic" replacement bag from their supplier. You can try to offer to buy an identical replacement bag and pay the difference yourself for the "better" bag so long as the airline contributes to the replacement cost.
How to avoid baggage damage?
The first rule is to buy good baggage appropriate to your needs. See Help with choosing the right baggage below.
The second rule is to not over pack. Heavy baggage is not easy to handle and is more likely to get dropped and abused. Heavy contents put an extra strain on the handle, the frame and even the locks.
The third rule is to either not pack liquids (which is difficult because you can not carry these on) or at least to pack these liquids with two points in mind:
Liquids can break open. First wrap any liquids in materials which can help protect these containers from shock and which can help absorb the liquid if the container does break or leak. Next, wrap all of this in at least one layer of heavy plastic (like a trash or rubbish bag) and tie it closed in a knot – do not rely on a drawstring.
Liquids can leak. Because of the difference in air pressure at altitude versus ground level there is relatively greater pressure inside a container of liquid during flight. This may cause anything but the most tightly closed and sealed containers to leak. First make sure that the lid or cap is secured tightly before you pack. Next, follow the precautions outlined above to contain the leak should it happen.
When you turn your baggage over to an airline you might be surprised to know how many different people have access to your baggage during handling.
Between check-in and the aircraft, baggage goes through security screening. While it is possible that items can "go missing" at this stage, the fact is that the screening areas are usually well supervised. Many are under video surveillance (for the protection of the screening officers and the TSA) and the time each bag is with TSA is usually a matter of minutes if not seconds.
After security screening, baggage goes to the "make-up" area for your flight. Here baggage is now under the airline's control and is loaded into containers or on carts which then are moved to the airplane. Here there are often opportunities for baggage handlers to get inside baggage without being seen.
Baggage is again vulnerable when it is, loaded into the aircraft where workers have access to the baggage inside the cargo hold or "belly" of the aircraft.
This entire process is repeated during connections and at arrival at the final destination.
It is important to note that today baggage handling has been outsourced to third party contractors at many airports and many airport workers are not airline employees with little loyalty to the airline you are flying.
Many people handle your baggage and there are many unsupervised opportunities to steal. If this happens, you most likely will not even notice it until you unpack your baggage – long after you have left the airport. Remember that you need to contact your airline immediately and certainly within 24 hours of arriving, to make your claim.
What can you expect your airline to do for you?
PILFERAGE – The airline probably will not even take the time to look for the missing item. The airline will also deny liability if the item has any significant value or was perishable. The airline will ask you to prove the original value of the item and if they accept responsibility will likely offer you less than you paid for the item because of depreciation (which means that things lose value with use and with age).
The airline baggage claims process generally work like this:
Regardless of the type of claim (lost, damaged or pilferage) the airlines require that problems be reported as soon as possible. In practice this means before leaving the airport. Technically, most airlines' "Contract of Carriage" requires this initial claim to be filed within 24 hours of flight arrival for domestic flights and within 7 days for international flights.
The purpose of the claim is initially to try and fix the problem; to find a lost bag or a missing item for example. When it is clear that the missing bag or items have not been found, or that a bag requires repair, the claim form serves a second purpose – to provide information for settling the claim.
Claims forms usually ask for a lot of detailed information including where specific items were purchased, the original price and when purchased. Claims Agents use this information to calculate a settlement offer. They will exclude the value of items which are valuable, perishable or fragile as these are not covered in the "Contract of Carriage". The Claims Agent will also usually depreciate the value of an item based on its age and use. This means that a claim for items totaling over $1,000 when new could be valued at a fraction of that based on the nature of the items and their age.
These claims forms should be submitted as soon as possible but usually not later than 21 days after travel. Late claims can be denied by the airline.
An airline might ask for additional information – if so, do not delay in replying as this also could be grounds for denying your claim.
Typical airline baggage claims are settled within one to three months time.
The TSA has its own Claims Management Office at TSA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia (near Washington, DC). Access the TSA Claims Management Office website for specific information and forms.
Currently the TSA Claims process requires completing forms and submitting these by mail along with supporting receipts and documents. The TSA Claims site includes:
overview of the TSA claims process
forms required to file a claim
answers to a number of TSA specific FAQs
track the status of an existing claims with TSA online
There are trends and fashions in baggage just as there are in clothing. Thirty years ago almost all baggage was hard-side. Since then the trend has been to soft-side or zippered baggage (up to 70% of baggage was zippered baggage in 2003). Today, with lighter materials and new construction, hard-side baggage is making a comeback. What are the benefits of each?
Hard side
Pro – Hard side gives better protection against theft (they are harder to break open), protection against crushing the contents and the best protection against water (baggage is frequently left in the rain at airports and a hard side bag will offer much more protection than a soft side or material based bag).
Con – because the sides are not flexible hard side bags are harder to "stuff" those extra purchases into. When the bag is full it is full. There is not much margin for error.
Comments:
there are many new hard side bags with a comparable "empty" weight to soft side bags. So the weight issue is no longer such a big factor in choosing between the two types.
A typical airline baggage container (those aluminum boxes you see being loaded on the airplane) holds about 35 bags. Bags average between 20 and 40 pounds or 10 to 20 kilos each. If your bag is loaded first it could have more than 200 pounds or 100 kilos of baggage on top of it for the whole flight. That fact, plus the overall protection against theft and rain damage, means that more experienced international travelers use hard side bags.
Soft Side
Pro – if you like to carry-on your baggage chances are you will have a better chance with most soft side models. If it is too big or the flight is too full it is still tough enough to go into the belly of the aircraft as checked baggage. It also helps that soft side baggage can expand more than hard side baggage when you pick up one too many purchases on a trip.
Con – Soft side bags are more vulnerable to theft – they are easier to get into than hard side baggage. And because most soft side baggage is made from material that "breathes" it can also absorb water if left outside in the rain which often happens with airline baggage.
Comments:
soft side baggage tends to be less expensive than hard side baggage
soft side baggage offers more flexibility in what can be packed because it can usually expand to take that little bit more.
For short trips and carry-on soft side baggage may be a good choice.
The airlines worldwide are changing their free baggage allowances. More and more airlines are starting to charge for every piece of checked baggage and most airlines now strictly limit what can be checked, even if an extra fee is paid.
Because each airline sets its own rules on baggage it is important to check directly with your airline to confirm your baggage allowance. This allowance can be different depending on class of service (First, Business or Economy), destination, aircraft and even time of year. See Travel Resources for a list of links to airline websites.
Just as weight limits are changing, so too are size limits now being enforced. Again, check with your airline to be sure.
