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01. 功能簡介

全球主要的箱包和旅行配件製造商都已經在他們的箱包產品上採用了旅安商標（Travel Sentry®），以符合TSA的要求。

航空公司的檢錄員也已經過培訓並識別該旅安商標，瞭解帶有該商標的旅行箱是可以上鎖的。

如果需要的話，TSA安檢員有著特殊的工具可以打開該箱包進行開箱檢查。

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02. 如何找到旅安認證的產品？

帶有旅安商標的產品在全球範圍的很多零售店均有銷售，包括一些世界最大的零售商。您也可以在網上採購到該產品。

點擊尋找商場可以幫助您在您的附近找到旅安認證的產品

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03. How can I set the combination on my lock?

市面上有著1000多種不同的TSA鎖，並不是所有的鎖的工作原理都是一樣的。但是大部分鎖設置密碼的步驟是一樣的。

這裡列出一些給密碼鎖設置或重置密碼的竅門。

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04. 我經常出國。我可以用旅安鎖嗎？

當然可以。目前只有美國TSA會通知乘客，如果他們的行李箱在需要被檢驗時卻上鎖了，將會被強行開箱檢驗，除非他們用的是旅安認證的鎖。如果您經常出國，您也可以用旅安鎖鎖您的任何行李，以保護您的財產和保證您放鬆的心態。

當您離開美國時，TSA安檢員可以檢查您的包並重新上鎖。無論您在何處旅行，您都可以使用旅安鎖來保護您的財物。

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05. 當我到達美國後，在行李清關之後，我的行李在美國國內又是如何被再次安檢呢？

當您乘飛機進入美國，並轉乘美國國內航班，您首先會經過海關檢查。當你通過海關時，您的行李也會接受再次檢查並轉到您的下一航班上。TSA會在此時掃描您的行李，如果您的行李有旅安鎖，他們就可以打開鎖，檢查後再重新上鎖，並送回您的航班。

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06. 美國旅安有限公司有生產鎖嗎？

沒有。旅安公司只是設立了旅安鎖的工業標準提供給有關箱包和鎖的企業使用。這些企業可以根據這些標準自行設計他們的產品。

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07. 如果我的旅安鎖被TSA撬開了，我能做些什麼？

如果該鎖是被TSA撬開的，它會被放回您的行李，並隨附一張該行李的檢驗通知。如果您發現您的包內有此通知並且您的旅安鎖被撬壞了，請立即與賣這個鎖給您的公司聯繫，您將獲得免費更換。

如果您確認該鎖不是被TSA損壞的，那麼您需要立即向您的航空公司投訴。有些鎖是由於航空公司的粗暴搬運或在傳送帶上被損壞的。這種投訴是有期限限制的，所以請馬上進行。

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08. 如果我忘了我的旅安鎖的密碼，或者我的旅安鎖出問題了——怎麼辦？

如果您忘記了密碼，很不幸，並沒有簡單的方法可以開鎖或者給鎖重設密碼。或許一些行李箱修理工或職業鎖匠會知道怎麼解決這個問題。在美國您可以在 美國行李箱商會的網站上尋求幫助，查詢離您最近的行李箱專賣店。

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09. 我的密碼鎖有問題，怎麼辦？

如果您在設置密碼或其他方面遇到問題，您可以與生產廠家和該鎖的銷售公司聯繫，他們將給您予幫助。

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01. 如果我忘了我的旅安鎖的密碼，或者我的旅安鎖出問題了——怎麼辦？

如果您忘記了密碼，很不幸，並沒有簡單的方法可以開鎖或者給鎖重設密碼。或許一些行李箱修理工或職業鎖匠會知道怎麼解決這個問題。在美國您可以在 美國行李箱商會的網站上尋求幫助，查詢離您最近的行李箱專賣店。

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02. 我的鎖在旅行過程中損壞了，怎麼辦？

鎖在旅行過程中損壞，可能有兩種原因造成的：

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03. 到達目的地後，我的鎖丟失了——怎麼回事？

可能有兩種原因導致您的鎖的丟失：

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04. 我把我的TSA鎖的鑰匙弄丟了，我怎樣才能獲得一把新鑰匙？

請與您購買TSA箱包或鎖的商店或品牌商聯繫。您可以聯繫品牌商求助，請點擊我們的品牌表查詢該品牌。

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01. Help with MISSING baggage?

Less than 1% of the four million pieces of airline baggage checked every day are "lost." The bad news is that this means that up to 40,000 bags may be mishandled daily. The good news is that most of these will be located and returned to their owners within 24-36 hours.

What can you expect your airline to do for you?

FIND – The last airline you traveled with on your itinerary is responsible to locate your baggage. If you arrive at your destination, and your checked baggage does not, go immediately to the airline baggage services office in the arrivals area and file a claim with your airline.

DELIVER – If the airline was responsible for losing your bag the airline will usually deliver it to you at their expense.

INTERIM EXPENSES – Also known as "First Needs" or "Out of Pocket" expenses. Very few airlines will offer to cover the costs of items you need while your baggage is lost. Usually you have to ask. You are more likely to be compensated if you flew in First or Business Class, or are an elite member of the airline's frequent flier program. If you are arriving at your "home" airport most airlines will refuse interim expenses.

Why do bags go missing?

Well over half of all baggage which is reported as "lost" is actually baggage which did not make the transfer between connecting flights. Most of these bags are delivered on later flights. Some airlines and some airports are much better at managing this problem than others.

Other reasons baggage goes missing include:

The bar code baggage tag could not be read by the automated airline baggage handling system and the baggage was delayed due to "manual" handling. Often more than15% of these tags can not be read by the automated "readers".

The baggage missed the originating flight because the passenger checked-in late, the baggage was delayed in security screening (often because a non-TSA lock was used), or the airline accidentally left the bag behind.

A small percentage of bags go missing when taken in error by another passenger at the baggage claim area. Protect yourself. Put distinctive markings, tags, ribbons or tape on your bag. Make yours look different.

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02. Help with DAMAGED baggage?

Damaged baggage is an unfortunate fact of travel. The airlines typically view baggage as a container meant to protect your belongings during travel. This is why they take no responsibility for "normal wear and tear" to baggage; similar to the post office who takes no responsibility for soiled or torn packages.

Here is what most airlines consider "normal wear and tear"

Broken wheels or feet

Lost pull straps

Minor cuts and scratches

Damage resulting from over packing

Damage to retractable baggage handles

Fragile or perishable items damaged during transport

Items unsuitably packed or unsuitable for transportation

Damage resulting from Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections

That still leaves a number of cases where damage is beyond wear and tear, is not normal, and is a direct result of poor handling by the airline. As always, it is best to report this damage to the airline immediately (before you leave the airport) and always within 24 hours.

What can you expect your airline to do for you?

DAMAGE – If the airline accepts responsibility for damaging your bag the airline will usually take responsibility for repairing it for you. Often this is done at a central repair facility so you may be without your bag for some time while repairs are made.

REPLACEMENT – Often it is easier and cheaper for the airline to simply replace your bag. You may need to negotiate with the airline to avoid being given a "generic" replacement bag from their supplier. You can try to offer to buy an identical replacement bag and pay the difference yourself for the "better" bag so long as the airline contributes to the replacement cost.

How to avoid baggage damage?

The first rule is to buy good baggage appropriate to your needs. See Help with choosing the right baggage below.

The second rule is to not over pack. Heavy baggage is not easy to handle and is more likely to get dropped and abused. Heavy contents put an extra strain on the handle, the frame and even the locks.

The third rule is to either not pack liquids (which is difficult because you can not carry these on) or at least to pack these liquids with two points in mind:

Liquids can break open. First wrap any liquids in materials which can help protect these containers from shock and which can help absorb the liquid if the container does break or leak. Next, wrap all of this in at least one layer of heavy plastic (like a trash or rubbish bag) and tie it closed in a knot – do not rely on a drawstring.

Liquids can leak. Because of the difference in air pressure at altitude versus ground level there is relatively greater pressure inside a container of liquid during flight. This may cause anything but the most tightly closed and sealed containers to leak. First make sure that the lid or cap is secured tightly before you pack. Next, follow the precautions outlined above to contain the leak should it happen.

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03. Help with ITEMS MISSING from baggage

When you turn your baggage over to an airline you might be surprised to know how many different people have access to your baggage during handling.

Between check-in and the aircraft, baggage goes through security screening. While it is possible that items can "go missing" at this stage, the fact is that the screening areas are usually well supervised. Many are under video surveillance (for the protection of the screening officers and the TSA) and the time each bag is with TSA is usually a matter of minutes if not seconds.

After security screening, baggage goes to the "make-up" area for your flight. Here baggage is now under the airline's control and is loaded into containers or on carts which then are moved to the airplane. Here there are often opportunities for baggage handlers to get inside baggage without being seen.

Baggage is again vulnerable when it is, loaded into the aircraft where workers have access to the baggage inside the cargo hold or "belly" of the aircraft.

This entire process is repeated during connections and at arrival at the final destination.

It is important to note that today baggage handling has been outsourced to third party contractors at many airports and many airport workers are not airline employees with little loyalty to the airline you are flying.

Many people handle your baggage and there are many unsupervised opportunities to steal. If this happens, you most likely will not even notice it until you unpack your baggage – long after you have left the airport. Remember that you need to contact your airline immediately and certainly within 24 hours of arriving, to make your claim.

What can you expect your airline to do for you?

PILFERAGE – The airline probably will not even take the time to look for the missing item. The airline will also deny liability if the item has any significant value or was perishable. The airline will ask you to prove the original value of the item and if they accept responsibility will likely offer you less than you paid for the item because of depreciation (which means that things lose value with use and with age).

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01. Airlines

The airline baggage claims process generally work like this:

Regardless of the type of claim (lost, damaged or pilferage) the airlines require that problems be reported as soon as possible. In practice this means before leaving the airport. Technically, most airlines' "Contract of Carriage" requires this initial claim to be filed within 24 hours of flight arrival for domestic flights and within 7 days for international flights.

The purpose of the claim is initially to try and fix the problem; to find a lost bag or a missing item for example. When it is clear that the missing bag or items have not been found, or that a bag requires repair, the claim form serves a second purpose – to provide information for settling the claim.

Claims forms usually ask for a lot of detailed information including where specific items were purchased, the original price and when purchased. Claims Agents use this information to calculate a settlement offer. They will exclude the value of items which are valuable, perishable or fragile as these are not covered in the "Contract of Carriage". The Claims Agent will also usually depreciate the value of an item based on its age and use. This means that a claim for items totaling over $1,000 when new could be valued at a fraction of that based on the nature of the items and their age.

These claims forms should be submitted as soon as possible but usually not later than 21 days after travel. Late claims can be denied by the airline.

An airline might ask for additional information – if so, do not delay in replying as this also could be grounds for denying your claim.

Typical airline baggage claims are settled within one to three months time.

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02. TSA

The TSA has its own Claims Management Office at TSA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia (near Washington, DC). Access the TSA Claims Management Office website for specific information and forms.

Currently the TSA Claims process requires completing forms and submitting these by mail along with supporting receipts and documents. The TSA Claims site includes:

overview of the TSA claims process

forms required to file a claim

answers to a number of TSA specific FAQs

track the status of an existing claims with TSA online

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01. Hard side versus soft side baggage

There are trends and fashions in baggage just as there are in clothing. Thirty years ago almost all baggage was hard-side. Since then the trend has been to soft-side or zippered baggage (up to 70% of baggage was zippered baggage in 2003). Today, with lighter materials and new construction, hard-side baggage is making a comeback. What are the benefits of each?

Hard side

Pro – Hard side gives better protection against theft (they are harder to break open), protection against crushing the contents and the best protection against water (baggage is frequently left in the rain at airports and a hard side bag will offer much more protection than a soft side or material based bag).

Con – because the sides are not flexible hard side bags are harder to "stuff" those extra purchases into. When the bag is full it is full. There is not much margin for error.

Comments:

there are many new hard side bags with a comparable "empty" weight to soft side bags. So the weight issue is no longer such a big factor in choosing between the two types.

A typical airline baggage container (those aluminum boxes you see being loaded on the airplane) holds about 35 bags. Bags average between 20 and 40 pounds or 10 to 20 kilos each. If your bag is loaded first it could have more than 200 pounds or 100 kilos of baggage on top of it for the whole flight. That fact, plus the overall protection against theft and rain damage, means that more experienced international travelers use hard side bags.

Soft Side

Pro – if you like to carry-on your baggage chances are you will have a better chance with most soft side models. If it is too big or the flight is too full it is still tough enough to go into the belly of the aircraft as checked baggage. It also helps that soft side baggage can expand more than hard side baggage when you pick up one too many purchases on a trip.

Con – Soft side bags are more vulnerable to theft – they are easier to get into than hard side baggage. And because most soft side baggage is made from material that "breathes" it can also absorb water if left outside in the rain which often happens with airline baggage.

Comments:

soft side baggage tends to be less expensive than hard side baggage

soft side baggage offers more flexibility in what can be packed because it can usually expand to take that little bit more.

For short trips and carry-on soft side baggage may be a good choice.

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02. Size and Weight

The airlines worldwide are changing their free baggage allowances. More and more airlines are starting to charge for every piece of checked baggage and most airlines now strictly limit what can be checked, even if an extra fee is paid.

Because each airline sets its own rules on baggage it is important to check directly with your airline to confirm your baggage allowance. This allowance can be different depending on class of service (First, Business or Economy), destination, aircraft and even time of year. See Travel Resources for a list of links to airline websites.

Just as weight limits are changing, so too are size limits now being enforced. Again, check with your airline to be sure.