
Company
Our story
Since 2003, our purpose has been to make travel safer and simpler.
We create standards to solve issues for airlines, airports, security agencies and passengers.
Travel safer and simpler
Travel Sentry Approved locks, Travel Sentry ID tags, TS TAG and OKOBAN improve the travel experience.
Travel Sentry brands are licensed to over 500 luggage and travel accessories brands.
Travel Sentry advocates sustainable production and products, factory workplace safety and the reduction of packaging waste for all products bearing its brands.

Milestones
Click on a year and see what happened
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Jan, 2003
TSA is operational
The Transport Security Administration began advanced screening of 100% of checked baggage at all 452 airports across the United States.Mar, 2003
Travel Sentry System is created
John Vermilye is the founder of Travel Sentry and the creator of the Travel Sentry® Approved lock system. He has over forty years’ airline baggage operations and security experience. John was approached by the Travel Goods Association to help establish a standards based system that would permit passengers to once again lock their bags yet enable the TSA to open these as needed for inspection. The Travel Sentry System was bornNov, 2003
All US airports were implemented with the Travel Sentry system
The Travel Sentry System was launched in all airports and the first Travel Sentry Approved locks went on sale 12 November 2003 -
Jan, 2004
Product Innovation Award received
At 2004 Travel Goods Association annual tradeshow in Washington, the Travel Sentry System was recognized for the benefits it provided to the travellers, the travel goods industry & the Transportation Security Administration but also the forward thinking initiative between private enterprise and the public agency -
Mar, 2005
10 Million locks
For the first time, 10 million Travel Sentry® Approved locks were produced annually -
May, 2006
Japan implemented the Travel Sentry system
Japan was the first country implementing the Travel Sentry system outside the US. Security officers at Tokyo Narita were able to open, inspect & lock Travel Sentry Approved Locks without the passenger present and without damaging the lock or the luggage -
Aug, 2008
OKOBAN is launched
Okoban® by Travel Sentry is set up by John Vermilye solving the lost & found issue in partnership with World Tracer. Okoban creates a link between owners and their property, assigning unique codes to any item that needs to be protected from accidental loss. The system is part of the largest network of Lost and Found offices in the world -
Nov, 2013
40 million locks
The number of Travel Sentry® Approved locks manufactured annually is up to 40 million by over 200 lock & luggage manufacturers all over the world -
Jul, 2014
Canada and Israel adopt the system
All Canadian airports, all Austrian airports and Ben Gurion (TLV) airport adopt the Travel Sentry system so they can open and re-lock passenger luggage that uses Travel Sentry® Approved locks when a physical inspection is required to clear checked baggage for safe transport -
Aug, 2015
Finland, South Korea and the Netherlands join the System
Security Officers at all finish airports and most South Korean and Dutch airports are equipped to inspect without damage luggage that uses Travel Sentry® Approved locks when a physical inspection is required -
Jun, 2016
5 more countries and 2 more continents
In depth checked luggage screening in most major airports in Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Togo and New Zealand is supported by the Travel Sentry system, allowing security officer to open and re-lock passenger luggage that uses Travel Sentry® Approved locks when a physical inspection without damage -
Jan, 2017
50% of passenger traffic covered by the system
One out of every two passengers today leaves from an airport using the Travel Sentry® Lock system: in 600 airports, in 16 countries, by 1.6 billion passengers annually, on 350 million locks, with more than 500 luggage brandsApr, 2017
New Corporate Visual Identity
Travel Sentry is proud to introduce a new Corporate Visual Identity. All trademarks and logos, including the Red Diamond, have been updated to fit the company’s manifesto: we make travel simply smarter. A new website, marketing campaign and brand videos are launched to promote this new visual identity.May, 2017
China adopts the system
Beijing Capital International airport is now equipped with the Travel Sentry system. It is the number 2 airport in the world and welcomes 90 million passengers annually with flights to over 250 destinations. This implementation consolidates Travel Sentry position as the global solution for airport security agencies worldwide.Sep 2017
500 Million locks
More than 500 brands have distributed more than 500 millions locks since the launch of the system in 2003. -
Oct, 2018
Brazil joins the system
We are very proud to now help the Federal government and police of Brazil in their baggage screening inspection.Nov, 2018
30 countries presence
With over 650 airports using the system in 30 countries: USA, Canada Panama, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, Latvia, Austria, Estonia, Switzerland, Hungary, Malta,Turkey, UAE, Israel, Togo, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Ivory Coast -
Oct, 2019
System used in 50 countries
With a majority of European airports now equipped with the Travel Sentry system, travellers can expect even more safe inspections and no damage.Nov, 2019
Room to Read Funding
Travel Sentry enter a long term commitment to support “https://www.roomtoread.org/”Room to Read to improve girls’ education in Cambodia. A first donation of 100 000 US$ will support 382 girls to attend secondary school and get life skills education and mentoring.Dec, 2019
600 million locks produced
More than 600 millions locks have been produced since the launch of the system in 2003. -
Mar, 2020
Travel Sentry ID Launch
With over 6,000,000 Unique ID codes issued in the past 10 years and users registered in over 200 countries, Travel Sentry is strengthening its leading position in lost & found solutions with the launch of TSID in addition to OKOBAN.

Philanthropy
Doing our bit to help
Since 2019, Travel Sentry has been donating yearly 100,000 US$ to Room to Read to improve girls’ education in Cambodia.
This annual funding will support 382 girls to attend secondary school and get life skills education and mentoring.