Under rules by the US Transit Security Administration (TSA), you can still lock luggage. Your luggage won’t be turned away if comes locked to the airport, but there is a slight hitch. If you luggage is locked with a lock that the TSA can’t open, they may very well cut it off to inspect the interior of your luggage. There is a way around this, and it’s a very simple one to pursue if you would like to make sure you not only maintain the security of your luggage, but also arrive at the end of your trip with your locks intact.

In order to still lock luggage when you fly, you need to purchase locks certified by the TSA. In regular stores, these will often come with a little flame logo, but most also state that they are TSA certified. The reason whey the TSA allows you to still lock luggage when you fly with TSA locks is because each lock features access via TSA keys. That way, they don’t have to mess with cutting off locks. If they want to inspect a piece of luggage, they merely use their skeleton key to open the lock and look.

Since the September 11 attacks, there have been many restrictions added to flying, including now requiring people to show ID before they board a plane. As long as you keep posted on these restrictions, and especially check websites from the airlines you choose to use, you can usually comply with these requirements with relatively minimal effort. It’s always important to check with TSA regulations, since these can change and do change fairly regularly. So even if you’ve flown recently, save yourself time by checking ahead to be sure you’re fully prepared for your next flight and compliant with TSA rules.

For many passengers it is a relief to know they can still lock luggage when they fly, and you may even find a few luggage locks at airports. It’s less expensive to purchase these in advance at luggage, department or general stores, and you may be able to get deals if you purchase more than one. You’ll note most stores in airports suffer from high price markups, which are often highest when you’re looking at something that is in high demand. On the other hand, replacing any lock can be expensive, so it may be worth it to pay a marked up price on a lock so you can still lock luggage when you fly. This will usually assure that when your luggage arrives it will remain locked, even if the contents have been checked by the TSA en route to its destination.