Have you ever tied a colorful ribbon to your luggage handle to make it more noticeable? Prepare for some surprising news that might change your approach!

It’s common to want your luggage to stand out, especially when searching for it among a sea of similar bags at a busy airport. To prevent mix-ups and ensure the safety of our belongings, many of us personalize our suitcases with tags, ribbons, and fun stickers. However, John, a baggage handler at Dublin Airport, argues that these well-meaning decorations could create more problems than they solve.

The need to personalize our bags is understandable. It can be frustrating when your suitcase blends in with other bags upon reaching your destination. Some even attach a GoPro to their luggage to track its journey. But before you embellish your suitcase, consider John’s advice. While adding ribbons to the handles may help you locate your belongings more easily, it could backfire. John explains:

“If someone attaches a ribbon to distinguish their luggage, it could disrupt the scanning process at baggage claim. If the suitcase can’t be automatically scanned and requires manual processing, there’s a risk it won’t make it onto the intended flight.”

If the scanner fails to accurately scan your bag adorned with a ribbon, it might be overlooked for the flight altogether. That’s certainly not a risk worth taking.

John recommends removing any expired stickers from your suitcase. These stickers could confuse the scanning process, potentially causing delays or misplaced luggage. While sentimental travel stickers are appreciated, it might be necessary to let them go to ensure a smoother trip.

John also shared a useful tip: position your suitcase with the wheels facing upwards. By following this simple advice, you can protect the wheels from damage and keep your suitcase problem-free.

For baking enthusiasts or those with a sweet tooth, avoid carrying marzipan in your luggage. John explains that marzipan, made of sugar, egg, and ground almonds, has a density that resembles certain explosives. This could lead to a detailed inspection of you and your belongings, potentially causing you to miss your flight. Imagine the inconvenience of having your baggage inspected and tested just because of a small quantity of almond paste. It’s not worth missing out on your vacation due to marzipan!

While it may be tempting to decorate your suitcase with a ribbon or personalize it, it’s generally better to avoid doing so. This also applies to packing delicate foods like marzipan. By following these recommendations, your travels are likely to be more trouble-free and uneventful.

Leave those ribbons at home and have a happy journey!