While these flimsy tags will be the first to be destroyed, I often add a few to my bag all the same.

So where's the best place to put luggage tags on your suitcase or backpack? Place the tag someplace where it can be tucked out of harms way (like under a handle).įar less strong and sturdy are the paper and elastic freebies you'll see at the airline check in counter. Metal luggage tags, complete with a metal loop like this one, are a strong, sturdy option. Choose short, strong loops that will hold the tag close to the bag. Invest in something strong and secure.Īvoid long loops and tag holders - they will only get snagged in the conveyor belt mechanisms and tear off. Free tags, like those that come with your luggage or are compliments of an airline or frequent flyer program, will not stand up to the abuse a suitcase endures in the bowels of an airport. I want a luggage tag that can stand up to anything and everything and never get ripped off. That way, if you lose your boarding pass, you have a record of your luggage receipt.įree airline luggage tags - a sticky situation? I also highly recommend you take a photo of your boarding pass (front and back). Knowing the three letter airport code of your destination can make the difference between having your luggage end up in Sydney, Nova Scotia instead of Sydney, Australia! Mistakes can happen, so take a quick second to double check the information on the tag. These unscanned bags are manually sorted and scanned and then sent on their way - most of the time! Usually the culprit is a minor backup or pile up behind the scenes when many bags are checked in at the same time. However, an estimated 15% of bar codes are misread or not read at all. Today, this information is supplemented by bar codes and even, in some cases, RFID technology. But are these paper loops enough?īack in olden times ( ie: The 1980s and 1990s), luggage tags contained basic information - your flight number, your baggage tag number, and your destination airport code. ( Fun fact: The Warsaw Convention of 1929 established the criteria for passengers to receive luggage receipts). This ties your bag to you, your flight, and your airline. They also tear off a small part of this sticky paper and adhere it to the back of your boarding pass. They print off a giant sticky loop of paper that goes around the handle of every checked bag. The airline does that for you when you check in. Any info that makes your air travel smoother is good in my books! So let's dig deep into luggage tag rules, what to do about luggage tags at the airport, and more.įirst of all, you are rarely - if ever - required to put personal luggage tags on your bags. As always, I'm happy to do my very best and try to get to the bottom of things. And while I wouldn't go so far to say that good luggage tags can make or break a trip, having reliable gear that makes your journey easier goes a long way in guaranteeing a great vacation. So why do luggage tags matter? I believe that it's often the little things that can make a big difference in travel. This is one of our most popular posts for new readers and we're thrilled that you've found us and started here! Please stick around and tell us what you thought of this post at the end.

Let's pause for a minute and say a very special hello to all the folks reading TurnipseedTravel for the first time. Do you really need to use them? What kind of luggage tags should you get? Where should you put them? And who, exactly, cares about this stuff? Um, that would be me - and you! Not once, not twice, but FOUR times this month readers have asked me about luggage tags.

Large personalized luggage tags