Going to Florida.......can i use padlocks???

[blossomsmine]

Hi My ds is going to USA soon, first hol without us
He says he can't use padlocks in the USA??? Never heard that one before. Anyone know anything about that? Also, been so long since i have had a holiday don't know how big the travel bag can be...........sad i know but anyone got any idea on that aswell?
Thanks all!

What does he want to use the padlock for?

I'm sure the BA site warned us not to padlock our cases last time we went but only because the padlocks would be broken if cases needed to be checked. Mine have been checked at some point in their transit on both of the last visits.

We went to Florida 2 years ago and we used special padlocks that the US customs people can open with a special key that they have. If you lock your suitcase with any old padlock and they want to look in your suitcase they will just break it open.

I think the ones we got were TSA locks or something you can buy them in B&Q, etc I'm sure that's where we got ours.

Or check on the dibb boards they will be able to tell you. it's a special board about going to Disney, not sure if your ds is going there but they will know about the locks for the suitcases.

hope to have helped

Like Linnet has pointed out you can use TSA approved padlocks (they certainly need to be TSA approved; it should state that on the packaging) for both entering and departing the USA. These are widely available in department stores. Do not use any other sort of padlock; the TSA are free to open any case, insert a leaflet to say that the case has been opened and destroy the lock. You cannot claim for any broken locks or damaged bag.

The TSA have master keys which they can use to open luggage.

Infact on departing the US you can lock your suitcase once it has been inspected by the TSA.

He needs to look at the airline's website that he is flying with re luggage sizes. Some carriers like BA only let you take one suitacase if you're flying economy class for instance and it's weight cannot be more than 23kg.

Thanks so much everyone for your help. Going to get some of the TSA padlocks tomorrow Also didn't know there was a Disney board, so thanks, yes he is going to Disney

definitely check out the Dibb board then they are brilliant, loads of info on there ask any question and someone will have an answer.

When we got home from Florida we found a leaflet in one of our bags saying that it had been opened and checked. I actually found the leaflet on the bed, dh was unpacking and hadn't even looked at the bit of paper just tossed it aside thinking it was something I had put in the suitcase.

Hope your ds has a good time.