When do I use TSA locks for my luggage?

I'm travelling to Thailand. Do thailand officials use TSA locks?

• I've been getting things ready to tavel to thailand, and I found a TSA lock, I have nevered travelled overseas before so I don't know if the TSA lock will have any benefit when travelling to thailand or if I should just get a normal lock? Also does anyone know whether it would be better getting one with a combination or with a lock as officials may have master keys?

• Answer:

  What country are you flying out of? You mention TSA so I am going to guess USA. I fly a lot, I don't use any locks at all now. I do know that years ago just after NineEleven when the airline said that they would cut your lock off if they needed to inspect your bag - well they didn't always do that - they would pry your zipper apart or cut the tab attached to a cheap lock! After having my zippers screwed up I stopped using any locks at all! I do use a plastic electricians tie. This is a little plastic doohickey that you connect the two parts of the lock or zipper together (same place as a lock) and then you insert one end into the other to make the connection secure. If any security force needed to inspect the bag they cut the plastic and not the zipper or lock! There have been lots and lots of flights from many airports in the U.S. to everywhere, within the U.S. and to foreign countries - so far no problems. Be realistic, no cloth, leather or vinyl bag with a lock is going to stop a dedicated thief! If your bag is pilfered it was just your unlucky day! Don't put anything of great value or something irreplaceable in your bag anyway! In my check in bag is mostly extra clothing, all well worn, a spare pair of sneakers and some novels to read. Nothing in the bag that I would really miss if the bag was even stolen entirely, I would pissed off but that's that! I am not sure if foreign security authorities (like TSA) even have keys for those special locks. I can't ever recall seeing one of them anyway. I use the plastic ties, I bring extra with me and if TSA ever cuts one off they replace it with one of their own - or supposed to! Check out the link below to see what the ties look like. You can get them in hardware stores or even some dollar/discount stores. Oh yeah, US airlines in the US warn you that the lock may be cut off, foreign airlines seem to not care too much on the overseas end. I do bring locks for locking my bags in my hotel room when I go out! Good luck.