A travel expert explains why tying a ribbon to your bag is a bad idea.
Can a colored ribbon actually damage your luggage? While it may seem like a small detail, experienced airport workers warn that this popular identification trick can cause more problems than good.
Why do travelers tie ribbons?
Many travelers tie ribbons, key rings or other decorations to their suitcases to quickly identify them at the baggage belt. This is understandable, especially since most of their luggage is the same color, dark. However, as travel expert and former airport worker Michał Kowalski explains, this practice can affect the safety and timely delivery of luggage.
Disruption of the scanning process
“Modern luggage sorting systems are based on automatic scanning of barcodes on airline baggage labels,” says Kowalski. “If the tape covers the label or gets caught on the belt, the bag may be held for manual handling. This delays the process and increases the risk that the bag will not arrive on time for the flight.”
Old labels? Remove them!
