Have you ever tried attaching a vibrant ribbon to the handle of your suitcase to make it stand out? Fasten your seatbelts because we have some news that might make you reconsider your decorating plan!
Everyone wants their luggage to be noticeable, especially when trying to find it in a sea of similar cases at a busy airport. Many of us decorate our suitcases with name tags, ribbons, and humorous stickers to deter others from inadvertently taking our precious belongings.
However, John, an airport baggage handler in Dublin, claims that these well-intended decorations may end up causing more problems than they solve.
Let’s start by admitting that our bags need personal touches. Nothing is worse than realizing your suitcase is still at the airport, hiding among other bags, when you finally get to your dream destination. Some people even attach a GoPro to their luggage to monitor its travels!
But take John’s advice before you start bedazzling your suitcase. Although attaching ribbons to your suitcase handles could make it easier to find, there is a chance this could go wrong. John said:
“When people tie a ribbon to identify their luggage, it can interfere with the bag’s scanning process in the baggage claim area. Your suitcase might not make it to the flight if it can’t be scanned automatically and has to be processed manually.”
Think about it: the scanner might not read your beautifully decorated bag properly, causing it to miss the flight entirely. Quite not worth the chance, is it?
John also advises removing any outdated stickers from your suitcase. These may cause confusion during the scanning process, leading to delays or misplaced luggage. While we understand how sentimental those travel stickers are, it might be time to part with them to make the trip run more smoothly.
John shared another helpful tip: turn the wheels of your suitcase face up. By following this simple tip, you can protect the wheels from damage and ensure your suitcase doesn’t encounter problems.
Here’s a surprising tip, especially for those who enjoy baking or have a sweet tooth: never pack marzipan in your luggage. Why? According to John, marzipan—a confection made of sugar, egg, and ground almonds—has a density similar to some explosives.
Yes, you read that correctly. This can lead to a thorough check of you and your luggage, which could cause you to miss your flight entirely.
Imagine having your luggage examined and swabbed simply for carrying a small amount of almond paste. Holidays missed because of marzipan are just not worth it!
The lesson here is that, even though it might seem sensible to tie a ribbon or add a personal touch to your suitcase, it’s usually best to avoid doing so. The same goes for packing dense foods like marzipan. If you follow these suggestions, your journey should go more smoothly and without incident.
Let those ribbons stay at home and have a happy journey!
