While tying a bright ribbon to your suitcase is a classic travel hack meant to make your bag easy to spot on the carousel, airport baggage handlers and travel experts warn that it can actually cause major logistical headaches.
The primary reasons experts advise against using luggage ribbons include:
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Baggage Scanning Failures: Modern airports rely heavily on automated barcode scanners to sort and route luggage through labyrinthine conveyor systems. If a ribbon hangs loosely, flaps around, or partially obscures the barcode sticker applied at check-in, the scanner may fail to read it.
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Manual Processing Delays: When a bag cannot be read automatically by the system, it gets diverted to manual processing. This extra step takes time, and if manual handlers are rushed or backlogged, your bag can easily miss its flight and end up delayed or left behind.
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Conveyor Belt Jams: Loose fabric, strings, and ribbons can catch or snag in the high-speed rollers, belts, and sorting machinery behind the scenes. This can cause temporary mechanical jams or tear the handles right off suitcases.
Better Alternatives for Spotting Your Bag
If you want to make your luggage stand out without risking a trip to the manual sorting room, experts recommend:
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Use a distinctive suitcase: Buying a brightly colored hardshell suitcase (like bright yellow, orange, or patterned) eliminates the need for markers altogether.
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Peel off old airline stickers: Make sure to remove any old barcode tags from previous flights. Old stickers confuse scanners just as much as rogue ribbons and are a leading cause of misrouted luggage.
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Opt for a tight-fitting luggage strap: If you use a luggage strap for extra security, wrap it snugly around the bag so nothing is dangling or loose.
