A new organization of luggage manufacturers called “Travel Sentry” has developed a set of combination locks that can be opened by not only their owner, but by agents of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Currently, TSA agents use bolt-cutters to remove any lock when searching through bags without the owner around, but by using a special code on the back of the lock or on a plate on the bag, agents can open the lock without having to destroy it. While the system may not be totally secure — I’m sure at some point someone will figure out how to crack the key system — locks on airline luggage are just simple deterrents anyway. If using a Travel Sentry lock will stop the TSA agents from snapping your padlock off every time they do a random check, so much the better. Travel Sentry will even replace a compliant lock if broken by the TSA.
