Operator of the worldwide standard for TSA-approved security locks for travel luggage
Travel Sentry
New on Amplifa
About Travel Sentry
Since 2003, Travel Sentry has been the operator of the eponymous licensing and standards system for TSA-approved security locks and identification systems for travel luggage, developed by founder John Vermilye. The company itself is not a manufacturer: it defines specifications for lock design, security and quality and licenses over 500 luggage and travel accessories brands as well as over 200 lock and luggage manufacturers worldwide, which produce more than 40 million TSA-Lock products per year. The system portfolio includes TSA LOCK, TSID (a battery-free recovery service with already 10 million unique IDs), OKOBAN (a lost-and-found solution), TS TAG, PBT and a Travel Accessories collection. Via the B2B portal luggage-factories.com, launched in 2024, Travel Sentry connects luggage and lock manufacturers from its vetted network with buyers. Since May 2026, Travel Sentry has been a strategic partner of IATA; the system is implemented in over 75 countries and around 750 airports. Since 2023, the company has acted as a licensor of its own travel accessories, and since 2025 with the compliance checker CarryOK.
- Processes
- Licensing system for TSA locks, luggage manufacturers and distributors, TSID/OKOBAN Lost & Found service, CarryOK carry-on compliance checker (including API), B2B sourcing portal luggage-factories.com, Support and information materials for customers, retailers and security authorities
- Founded
- 2003
- Industries
- Travel luggage/Travel accessories, TSA-approved lock manufacturers, Airports and security authorities, Airlines, Retail/Travel accessories, Airlines (IATA)
- 01
Standard-setting and specification of TSA locks
- 02
Licensing of lock, luggage and accessories manufacturers
- 03
Auditing of licensees against quality standards
- 04
Marketing via the Red Diamond brand
- 05
B2B sourcing via luggage-factories.com
- 06
Support for customers, retailers and security authorities
Product Areas
Inside the production
Industries
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 2003
Founded by John Vermilye; system introduced at all US airports, first TSA locks sold in November
- 2004
Product Innovation Award from the Travel Goods Association; Japan adopts the system as the first country outside the USA
- 2005
Annual production exceeds 10 million Travel Sentry Approved Locks for the first time
- 2006
Founding of OKOBAN by Travel Sentry (John Vermilye, with World Tracer)
- 2008
Annual production reaches 40 million locks, manufactured by over 200 manufacturers worldwide
- 2013
System covers 50% of global passenger traffic (16 countries, 600 airports)
- 2014
Beijing Capital International adopts the system
- 2015
System in 30 countries with over 650 airports
- 2016
Over 600 million locks produced; Brazil joins
- 2018
Donation of USD 100,000 to Room to Read
- 2020
Distribution of over 100,000 face masks to licensees during the pandemic
- 2022
Introduction of TSID; system in 50 countries
- 2023
20th anniversary, launch of the Travel Accessories Collection; over 1 billion products sold with the Red Diamond logo
- 2024
Office opened in India; launch of the Sustainability Awards; B2B portal luggage-factories.com started; 500,000 TSID users
- 2025
Member of 1% for the Planet; launch of CarryOK (July); TSID reaches 10 million UIDs
- 2026
IATA Strategic Partner; system in over 75 countries and 750 airports; first trade fair appearance at Ambiente Frankfurt