One other good travel tip is to remove tags or stickers from previous flights. This will help to prevent the airline from accidentally sending your bag elsewhere than your destination.
TSA-approved locks can be opened with particular keys held by TSA agents. Be warned, though, that those keys can be copied, and are not difficult to acquire online. In addition, many can be picked or broken relatively easily. You do not need to have a TSA-approved lock on your luggage, though if you don’t have one, TSA will break it if they feel they need to get into your bags. If you use multiple locks, consider mixing the type of lock you use. This will help protect against criminals who only have one way to get through a lock, and can discourage would be thieves. If your carry-on bag has a lock on it, be sure to use it when you board the plane. It can be a hassle to open again if you need something, but that way it is always locked if you should go to the bathroom or take a nap. [6] X Research source
In the few places that you can’t hold on to your bags, like at security, do you best to keep an eye on it. Watch to make sure your bag or bin goes into the X-ray machine, and to make sure it comes back out. Once your items are through, grab them and get away from the security point. You can put on your shoes elsewhere.
Some major airports have wrapping service stations. You can pay for a machine to give you the plastic to wrap the bag after arriving at the airport. [11] X Research source
One good place for storing your bag is the overhead compartment across from your seat, rather than the one directly above you. This will allow you to see the compartment if someone should open it.
Alternatively, make sure the pockets are toward you when you put the bag under the seat. You don’t want the person in front of you to be able to reach down and pull something out that you can’t see. If you can see the pockets, you can see who is accessing them.
