I have used a TSA compliant lock on all my bags that had ammo and firearms with out issue. Do the rules say no locks on bags. It just made sense to me to lock my suitcase that has a gun in it???
Modified:
I reread your post. No TSA locks but use a lock that only you can open up
I was particularly referring to the suitcase itself. I prefer to lock it also. TSA compliant on the suitcase makes things easier. On the gun case only you access is smart.
Both the TSA and the Hawaiian Airlines sites used to be more explicit. I guess they tried to make the language easier. And, looking back, I see I committed that same error. You are right, according to Hawaiian, a case containing
firearms must have a non-TSA lock on it. If that case is, in turn, inside a larger case, that outer case can have a TSA lock.
Older versions of the TSA website specifically said "do not use a TSA compliant lock" on guns or ammo. You were to unlock the case for the TSA agent to perform any inspections, remain present during the inspections, and personally lock the case again at the end of the inspections. In the unlikely event your luggage needed to be screened again, it was TSA's responsibility to locate you so you could unlock the case.
I wonder if these new pages reflect poorly-written documentation, or a changing policy?