I take it that you wouldn't want to lock your bags when flying with proper locks, incase customs want to check your bag and are forced to cut the locks.

So in order to secure (albeit in a small way) your bags would it be recommended to use cable ties?

I bring this issue up because of the recent allegations against baggage handlers in Sydney international airport, and allegations of strangers in general, placing illegal items in bags at airports.
Even though the use of cable ties might not stop something like this from happening, you would at least be alerted to the fact that someone has gone through your bag.


So is it worth using cable ties? Is there some better method to use? Is it worth doing anyway?

you can now buy special cable ties for exactly that purpose, the ties have a special number on them so if they are replaced u can easily tell.
i think u can get them at travel stores.

My problem with cable ties is that they're a pain to get off at the other end - you cant take your own scissors in carry on anymore :P
guess someone at your destination would have some.

Regardless, I'm most likely going to be using cable ties on my luggage when we go - can worry about opening it when we get there after 26 hours of flying :)

tip to getting cable ties off...
ok, find the smallest most non-needed pocket on the outside of your bag, put a pair of scissors or a swiss army knife or something in it...then put a small inexpensive lock on it and keep the key with you.
when you want to take the cable ties off at the other end simply unlock the scissors/knife and hey presto....now u can put locks on ur bag.

yeah that is the funny part of the ties, I always keep my leatherman on me but when flying have to put it in mychecked bag. So it is like a trick or something. If I can get to my knife I cancut this tie, oh wait, I won't need it by then anyhow hehe.

SuDZ

I locked my pack and had no problems. people lock their luggage all the time....after I had someone attempt to steal something out of my luggage once I refuse to check anything unlocked.

Hey...

I got into Vegas post 9-11 and went scrambling to find something to cut thru my zip ties holding my locks together.

PITA, if you ask me, I had to go to the hotel's front desk, explain the situation and beg them to let me borrow something to cut them.

Now I travel with some of those TSA-approved combination locks. Granted, if someone wants to really get into the bag, they will, but since purchasing those, I haven't had an issue. In fact, as far as I could tell, my locks were never undone, and haven't seen one of those TSA notes saying my shit had been tossed in a random search.

I suggest ordering them online and going from there... ebags.com, REI.com, and a ton of other sites have them.