Facilitating security screening of traveler's luggage

Special locks for securing travelers' luggage while facilitating screening by a luggage-screening entity that is Government-authorized to screen checked luggage that the travelers have locked with said locks, said special locks comprising:

• in each special lock, both a master key lock portion and a second lock portion, wherein:
• the master key lock portion of each of said special locks is configured for the same master key to unlock and re-lock the lock for said authorized screening by the luggage-screening entity, independently of a locked state of the second lock portion of the same lock;
• the second lock portion of each of said special locks is configured to unlock and re-lock the lock by manipulations of said second lock portion of the lock independently of a locked state of the master key lock portion of the same lock;
• the second lock portion of one of said special locks is a combination lock mechanism that has two or more combination lock dials;
• the second lock portion of another of said special locks is a locking mechanism other than a combination lock mechanism;
• and
• each of said special locks carries the same indicia configured to uniquely determine that said special locks are locks that the luggage-screening entity is authorized to unlock and re-lock with said master key for said luggage screening without breaking the lock or the luggage.

In a method of using special locks to secure traveler's luggage that is subject to screening by a luggage-screening entity, in combination the steps of:

• including, in one of said special locks, a traveler-operated combination lock portion having an internal locking mechanism operated with a first plural number of combination lock dials;
• including, in another of said special locks, a traveler-operated internal lock portion that is other than a combination lock;
• including in each of said special locks, in addition to the traveler-operated lock portion thereof, a master internal locking device that is configured to unlock and re-lock the lock with the same master key mechanism provided to the luggage-screening entity while the traveler-operated internal lock portion of the same lock remains locked;
• providing each of said special locks with an attachment portion configured to interlock with an individual piece of luggage to secure the luggage against unauthorized access;
• providing at an outside of each of said special locks the same indicia uniquely configured to convey to travelers and to the luggage-screening entity that the luggage-screening entity is authorized per agreement to open each of said special locks with said same master key mechanism for screening luggage secured with said special locks;
• making the indicia different from indicia that do not uniquely differentiate said special locks, which the luggage-screening is authorized to open with said same master key mechanism, from locks that are not configured to be opened with said master key mechanism.