A baggage handler reveals why you should never tie a bow to your luggage

If you’ve ever spent time in an airport searching for your prized possessions on the baggage carousel, you’ll understand the stress of watching hundreds of nearly identical suitcases pass by on the conveyor belt.

While the most resourceful travelers have discovered that attaching a ribbon to their luggage makes theirs stand out from the rest, one airport worker warns that using personal markers leads to the kind of luggage that can’t be unloaded.

Read on to find out why you should never tie ribbons or bows to your suitcase.

The thought of losing your luggage during a trip can strike fear into even the most seasoned of travelers.

To reduce the risk of having their luggage stolen by another passenger, or of being watched as it slowly rolls down the conveyor belt, travellers tie coloured ribbons on their suitcases to distinguish them from the rest.

But according to a baggage handler at Dublin Airport, who goes by the name of John, these popular tricks are doing more harm than good.

In fact, it can make your worst travel nightmare come true.

Leave the tape at home

Speaking to RSVP Live , John revealed that attaching identification lanyards to luggage can cause delays, meaning your belongings could miss your flight.

“The ribbons that people attach to their bags to identify them can cause problems with the scanning of the bag in the baggage claim area,” John told the outlet. “If the bag can’t be scanned automatically, it can end up in a manual process, which could mean your bag doesn’t make it onto the flight.”

Checking your bag without identifiers, such as ribbons or old travel stickers, is a less hassle way to identify your suitcase.

John offers: “Remove any old stickers from your suitcase, they can cause confusion with the scanning process.”

The dangers of marzipan in your suitcase

Another thing that can cause problems with your luggage is marzipan, the delicious almond sweet.

“Never put marzipan in your luggage. It has the same density as some explosives, so your suitcase will be taken away and you will be called off the plane to be searched,” explains the Dublin-based luggage expert.

Finally, before you send your luggage down the small conveyor belt to handlers like John, make sure it is wheeled up to prevent damage.

No more basic luggage

Luggage has evolved a lot in recent decades and it is no longer necessary to carry the basic black, brown or navy blue luggage.

According to Travel & Leisure , black luggage “is one of the most versatile colors, if not the most versatile, which is why it is so popular.”

For this reason, if you want your luggage to stand out at baggage claim, it’s worth choosing a different shade, such as a patterned suitcase or perhaps one that comes in a bold colour like hot pink.

And if pink isn’t your thing, you can find suitcases in many bright, bold colors that will make your belongings stand out from the rest.

Or if you’re not willing to part with the ones you currently have, consider using fabric paint to add identifying elements that won’t interfere with scanning.

Please share this important information and advice from this Dublin Airport worker .