How secure are suitcase locks?

For many travelers, locking their suitcase feels as natural as fastening a seatbelt. It promises order, control, and security—yet videos circulating online are beginning to undermine that confidence.

You click, press, pull, and the lock pops open. Is this an isolated incident or a systemic issue? It's a bit more complicated than it first appears. Suitcase locks have a clear purpose – but it's often misunderstood.

Psychological barrier instead of high security

Many common combination locks—especially the built-in models found on hard-shell suitcases—can be opened using surprisingly simple techniques. Depending on the design, a slight pull on the locking mechanism is often enough to detect the notches of the number wheels. In this way, the correct combination can be determined step by step, frequently in under a minute; with some practice, it may take only a few seconds. Particularly problematic is the fact that this method leaves no visible trace.

Equally sobering is the reality of TSA locks, which are widely regarded as especially travel-friendly. Their primary purpose is to allow customs and security authorities to open luggage without causing damage. Yet this very feature also represents a weakness: the corresponding master keys have been known for years, thoroughly documented, and are freely available online. Duplicates can be easily purchased, meaning the added security compared with a conventional lock is, in practice, minimal.

In addition, there's a structural problem that many travelers underestimate: It's often not the lock, but the zipper that's the real point of attack. On numerous suitcases, the teeth can be forced apart with a sturdy ballpoint pen. This allows access to the contents without opening the lock. The zipper is then closed again – almost invisibly to the untrained eye.

Suitcase locks are not entirely useless, however: they deter opportunistic thieves and prevent the suitcase from accidentally opening. They are therefore less of a protective barrier and more of a warning sign.