Travel Sentry
Encyclopedia
Travel Sentry, Inc. is an American company that establishes and manages standards used in travel security. It neither makes nor sells products. It created the TSA Lock concept used by the Transportation Security Administration
, a part of the Department of Homeland Security.
, went on sale on 12 November 2003.
Initially, only key and combination padlocks were Travel Sentry Approved. In 2004, Samsonite
developed the first luggage with integrated Travel Sentry Approved locks.
In 2010, Travel Sentry reported that there were already over 100 million of its Travel Sentry Approved locks and luggage in circulation.
The system is currently in use in the United Kingdom by HMRC and is also reportedly in use by the New Zealand Customs Service
, Dutch Tax and Customs Administration
as well as at Tokyo's Narita
and Haneda Airports.
Travel Sentry licenses this system to over 300 companies worldwide; mostly luggage brands, lock manufacturers and distributors of travel goods.
standard for registering luggage and other personal items such as passports, personal electronic devices like phones, computers, cameras which are at risk of being misplaced or lost when traveling.
Transportation Security Administration
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the safety and security of the traveling public in the United States....
, a part of the Department of Homeland Security.
History
Founded in 2003 the first Travel Sentry Approved locks, distributed by BrookstoneBrookstone
Brookstone is a chain of retail stores in the United States. Its first store was opened in 1973 in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Its headquarters are currently located in Merrimack, New Hampshire....
, went on sale on 12 November 2003.
Initially, only key and combination padlocks were Travel Sentry Approved. In 2004, Samsonite
Samsonite
The Samsonite Corporation makes luggage with its products ranging from large suitcases to small toiletries bags and briefcases. It was started in Denver, Colorado, USA in 1910 byJesse Shwayder, as the Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company. Shwayder named one of his initial cases "Samson", after the...
developed the first luggage with integrated Travel Sentry Approved locks.
In 2010, Travel Sentry reported that there were already over 100 million of its Travel Sentry Approved locks and luggage in circulation.
TSA Lock
Travel Sentry developed the Travel Sentry Approved Lock (TSA Lock) system, that is "accepted and recognized" by the TSA and allows security agencies, using special tools and codes, to open and re-lock locks. The tools provided by Travel Sentry are reported to be at every luggage screening checkpoint at all 450 airports controlled by the TSA.The system is currently in use in the United Kingdom by HMRC and is also reportedly in use by the New Zealand Customs Service
New Zealand Customs Service
The Customs Service is a state sector organisation of New Zealand whose role is to provide border control and protect the community from potential risks arising from international trade and travel, as well as collecting duties and taxes on imports to the country. New Zealand's Minister of Customs...
, Dutch Tax and Customs Administration
Tax and Customs Administration
The Tax and Customs Administration is the tax collection and customs service of the government of the Netherlands. Part of the Ministry of Finance, it is responsible for supervising the import, export and transit of goods, detecting fiscal, economic and financial fraud, levying and collecting...
as well as at Tokyo's Narita
Narita International Airport
is an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama....
and Haneda Airports.
Travel Sentry licenses this system to over 300 companies worldwide; mostly luggage brands, lock manufacturers and distributors of travel goods.
Okoban
Travel Sentry also created the OkobanOkoban
Okoban is an international company that established a standard and operates the system that allows individuals to register personal property online so that in the event these are lost and found that these can be returned to their owners....
standard for registering luggage and other personal items such as passports, personal electronic devices like phones, computers, cameras which are at risk of being misplaced or lost when traveling.