If you’ve ever stood amidst the hustle and bustle of an airport, eyes anxiously sweeping the baggage carousel for your cherished belongings, then you’re no stranger to the anxiety that accompanies watching countless identical suitcases circulate on the conveyor belt.

 

Astute travelers have long discovered that affixing a ribbon to their luggage helps distinguish it from the sea of similar bags. However, an airport employee is cautioning that employing personal identifiers comes with a weight of trouble you can’t easily discard.

 

Read on to discover why you should avoid ribbons and marzipan on your travels!

The mere thought of lost luggage can send shivers down the spine of even the most intrepid voyager.

In an effort to mitigate the risk of another traveler mistakenly taking their luggage or watching their suitcase make endless rounds on the carousel, travelers have taken to adorning their bags with vibrant ribbons to ensure they stand out.

 

But, according to John, a seasoned baggage handler at Dublin Airport, these popular tactics may actually do more harm than good.

In fact, they could turn your worst travel nightmare into a reality.

Ditch the Ribbon
Speaking to RSVP Live, John explained that tying distinctive ribbons onto your luggage could lead to delays, increasing the risk that your belongings might miss their flight.

“Ribbons that travelers tie onto their suitcases for easy identification can cause complications during the scanning process in the baggage hall,” John shared with the outlet. “If a bag cannot be scanned automatically, it ends up in manual processing, which could result in your bag not making it onto the flight.”

Checking in your suitcase without these identifiers—ribbons and outdated travel stickers—might improve its chances of arriving promptly at your destination.

John advises: “Remove old stickers from your luggage, as they can confuse the scanning process.”

Another potential pitfall for your baggage is marzipan, the sweet, almond-flavored treat. John warns that carrying marzipan could get you flagged by security during your trip.

“Never pack marzipan in your luggage. It shares the same density as certain explosives, so your bag might be pulled, and you could be summoned off the plane for a bag search,” the Dublin baggage expert cautioned.

Lastly, before sending your luggage down the conveyor belt to handlers like John, make sure it’s wheels side up to avoid potential damage.

Farewell to Ordinary Baggage
Luggage design has come a long way in recent decades, and you no longer need to settle for basic black, brown, or navy baggage.

As noted by Travel & Leisure, black luggage “is one of the most—if not, the most—versatile colors, which is why it’s so prevalent.”

The outlet suggests, “For this reason, it’s worth choosing a different hue if you want your luggage to stand out at baggage claim. Consider a patterned suitcase or one in a bold color like hot pink.”

 

And if pink doesn’t suit your taste, you can find luggage in a plethora of bright, bold colors that will make your possessions pop among the rest.

Or, if you’re not ready to part with your current luggage, consider using fabric paint or stickers to add identifying features that won’t interfere with scanning.

John’s insights should ease some of the stress that travelers around the globe experience!

What strategies do you have for helping travelers avoid airport mishaps? Share your thoughts with us, and don’t forget to spread this story to hear from others!