TSA locks, tags and luggage scales
The accessories aisle is where luggage brands make their margin. Four items earn their place; the rest rarely do.
Worth buying
A TSA-accepted combination lock. In the US and Canada, security can open a TSA lock with a master key instead of cutting it off. Outside those countries, any decent combination lock works and a TSA one is harmless.
Two luggage tags, filled in properly. Put your name, a phone number and an email — never your home address. Add a second tag inside the case; external tags tear off at exactly the wrong moment.
A hanging luggage scale. Weighing at home is the difference between a 23 kg allowance and a £60 excess fee. Digital scales are accurate to about 50 g and cost less than a coffee.
A bright strap or cover if you check a common black hard shell. It is not theft protection; it is so you recognise your bag on a carousel moving at speed.
Usually not worth it
- GPS trackers inside checked bags: fine for peace of mind, useless for recovery in most cases
- Wheel covers that trap grit
- "Anti-theft" bags with hidden zips on a checked case nobody is carrying
If something breaks abroad
A luggage scale plus a spare wheel-and-handle kit is overkill for a holiday and sensible for long-term travel. Compare locks, tags and scales in Luggage tags, locks & scales.
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