Gina Heslop
When traveling by plane, one of the most stressful parts of the journey is waiting for your luggage at the baggage carousel.
With so many suitcases looking the same, travelers have come up with creative ways to make their bags stand out. One common method is tying a colorful ribbon on the handle to easily spot it among the sea of similar bags. However, an airport baggage handler named John has revealed that using this trick may cause more problems than it solves.
John, who works at Dublin Airport, shared his insights in an interview with RSVP Live, explaining why attaching ribbons or other personal markers to luggage can be a bad idea.
According to him, these ribbons can interfere with the airport’s baggage scanning process. Modern airports use automated systems to scan luggage quickly and direct it to the correct flight. But if the ribbons get caught in the scanners or block the labels, the system can’t read the bag properly. This forces the bag to be manually processed, which can lead to delays and, in some cases, your luggage might not make it onto your flight.
John also advised travelers to remove old travel stickers from their bags, as these can cause confusion during scanning. Outdated stickers from previous trips can lead the system to misread the information, resulting in your luggage being sent to the wrong destination. Keeping your suitcase clean and free of unnecessary markers ensures it moves through the airport system smoothly.
In addition to avoiding ribbons, John offered another unusual piece of advice: never pack marzipan in your luggage. Marzipan, a sugary almond-based treat, has a density similar to certain explosives, which can trigger security alarms.
If you have marzipan in your suitcase, airport security may remove your bag for additional screening, and you could be called off the plane for a bag search. To avoid unnecessary hassle, it’s best to leave marzipan out of your luggage altogether.
Before you send your suitcase down the conveyor belt, John also suggested placing it wheels-side up. This simple step can prevent damage to your bag as it moves through the baggage handling system.
Finally, John encouraged travelers to consider using brightly colored or patterned luggage to make it easier to identify at baggage claim. Black, brown, and navy suitcases are the most common, which is why so many bags look alike.
By choosing luggage in bold colors like hot pink or using fabric paint or stickers to personalize your suitcase, you can still make your bag stand out without interfering with airport scanning equipment.
While it may seem like a good idea to tie a ribbon on your suitcase to spot it quickly, this trick can actually cause delays and problems. Instead, opt for unique luggage or safer ways to mark your bag that won’t disrupt the scanning process.
