You shouldn't lock your bags. I assume your experience will be more or less like mine 2 weeks ago at Fort Wayne International Airport. After going to the ticket counter to check in, you won't leave your bags there but take them to another area where they will be opened and examined for explosives. They will then normally fasten them with a plastic pull tie. After that they took them to be x-rayed.

There is no point in your putting a pull tie on before they examine them for explosives, obviously.

Once you get to Europe, if you are travelling by air within Europe you can so far as I know have your bags locked. Unlock them again before you leave Europe -- and it is at this point you would want to put on your plastic pull tie.

Doug

Doug Weller Birmingham, England http://www.ramtops.demon.co.uk