Many travelers tie colorful ribbons, scarves, or other decorations to their suitcases to make them easier to spot on the baggage carousel. While this seems like a smart way to identify your luggage, some aviation experts have warned that these accessories may occasionally create unexpected problems during baggage handling.
Here’s why some airports and baggage professionals recommend keeping luggage as simple as possible.
Why Do People Attach Ribbons?
Travelers often add ribbons because they:
- Make suitcases easier to recognize.
- Help avoid accidentally taking someone else’s bag.
- Add a personal touch to plain luggage.
- Save time at baggage claim.
Although these are practical reasons, brightly colored ribbons are not always the best solution.
How Ribbons Can Affect Baggage Handling
At many airports, checked luggage passes through automated systems that scan baggage tags and route bags to the correct aircraft.
Large ribbons, bows, or loose decorations may:
- Obstruct baggage tags or barcodes.
- Get caught in conveyor belts or sorting equipment.
- Require airport staff to manually inspect or reprocess the bag if the automated system cannot read it properly.
While this doesn’t happen to every suitcase with a ribbon, minimizing unnecessary attachments can help reduce the chance of delays.
Other Items That Can Cause Similar Problems
Besides ribbons, baggage handlers may recommend avoiding:
- Long straps hanging from luggage
- Loose luggage covers that don’t fit securely
- Bulky keychains
- Decorative cords or ropes
- Items attached to zippers that can snag on equipment
Keeping the exterior of your suitcase neat helps it move more smoothly through automated systems.
Better Ways to Identify Your Suitcase
Instead of tying on a ribbon, consider:
- Choosing a suitcase in a distinctive color or pattern.
- Using a high-quality luggage tag with your contact information.
- Adding a small, secure sticker or luggage wrap that doesn’t cover the baggage tag.
- Taking a photo of your suitcase before your trip so you can easily identify it.
These methods can help you recognize your luggage without interfering with airport equipment.
Don’t Forget to Remove Old Baggage Tags
Another common recommendation is to remove old airline baggage tags after each trip.
Leaving outdated tags attached can:
- Confuse baggage scanners.
- Increase the chance of routing errors.
- Delay delivery of your luggage.
Keeping only the current baggage tag visible helps airport systems process your bag correctly.
Final Thoughts
Attaching a ribbon to your suitcase isn’t guaranteed to cause problems, and many travelers do it without issue. However, loose decorations can sometimes interfere with automated baggage systems or snag on equipment. For the smoothest travel experience, use secure identification methods, keep your baggage tag clearly visible, and avoid accessories that could obstruct scanners or catch during handling. A few simple precautions may help your luggage reach your destination as efficiently as possible.