Have you ever tried adding a colorful ribbon to the handle of your luggage to make it stand out? So tighten your seatbelts, because we’ve got some news that may make you reconsider your decorating plans!
Everyone wants their baggage to stand out, especially when trying to identify it in a sea of similar bags at a busy airport. Many of us decorate our bags with name tags, ribbons, and hilarious stickers in an attempt to dissuade others from stealing our valuable things.
However, John, an airport luggage handler in Dublin, believes that these well-intended decorations may cause more issues than they solve.
Let’s begin by accepting that our bags require personal touches. There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination and finding your suitcase hidden in the airport’s baggage. Some folks even attach a GoPro to their baggage to track their travels!
However, before you start bedazzling your baggage, heed John’s advice. Although adding ribbons to your luggage handles may make it simpler to locate your items, there is a risk that this will go wrong. John stated the following:
When a passenger ties a ribbon to identify their luggage, it may disrupt the bag’s scanning procedure in the baggage claim area. The man cautioned that if your bag requires manual handling instead of mechanical scanning, it might not reach the aircraft.
Consider this: Your tastefully decorated luggage may have completely missed the flight due to the scanner’s inability to properly read it. Is the risk not worthwhile?
John also recommends removing any expired stickers from your baggage. These may confuse the scanning process, leading to delays or suitcase misplacement. Although travel stickers are emotional, it may be time to part ways to make the trip easier.
John also gave me a valuable tip: flip your suitcase’s wheels face up. By following this simple technique, you can protect the wheels and keep your suitcase from tipping over.
The truth, however, is that whether you like baking or have a sweet tooth, you should never include marzipan in your luggage. Why? According to John, Marzipan, a dessert made of sugar, eggs, and crushed almonds, has a density comparable to some explosives. You truly did read correctly. This can lead to a thorough search of you and your bags, which might cause you to miss your flight completely.
Imagine having your baggage searched and swabbed only for a little bit of almond paste. Holidays missed due to Marzipan are simply not worthwhile!
The takeaway here is that, while it may appear reasonable to tie a ribbon or add a personal touch to your bag, it is typically preferable to avoid doing so. The same is true for packing rich delicacies, such as marzipan. If you follow these tips, your trip should go more easily and without incident.
Leave those ribbons at home and have a wonderful trip!