If you’ve ever spent any amount of time at an airport scanning
the baggage carousel for
your prized possessions, you’ll understand the stress of seeing hundreds of
near identical suitcases passing by on the conveyor belt.
While resourceful travelers discovered
that securing a ribbon to their luggage makes theirs stand out from the rest, an
airport worker is warning passengers that using personal markers comes with the
kind of baggage you can’t unload.
Keep reading to learn why you should
never use ribbons or travel with marzipan!
The
thought of losing baggage while travelling can strike fear into even the
most seasoned of travelers.
To
reduce the risk of having luggage taken by another passenger, or of watching
luggage slowly swirl by repeatedly on the conveyor belt, travelers are
attaching colorful ribbons to their suitcases to make sure it stands apart from
the rest.
Credit:
Shutterstock
But
according to a Dublin Airport baggage handler, who goes by the name John, these
popular tricks are doing more harm than good.
In
fact, it can make your worst travel nightmare come true.
Leave
the ribbon at home
Speaking
to RSVP Live, John revealed that tying identifying ribbons on
your luggage can cause delays, meaning your belongings might miss the flight.
“Ribbons
that people tie onto their suitcases to help identify them can cause issues
with the bag being scanned in the baggage hall,” John told the outlet. “If the
bag can’t be scanned automatically it can end up in manual processing, which
could mean your bag doesn’t make it to the flight.”
Checking
in your suitcase without identifiers, like ribbons and old travel stickers,
gives it a better chance of arriving easily.
John
offers: “Take old stickers off the bag, it can cause confusion with the
scanning process.”
Another
thing that can cause problems with your baggage is marzipan, the delicious
sugary almond treat, and John warns you may be flagged by security if you take
it on vacation.
“Don’t
ever pack marzipan in your luggage. It has the same density as some explosives,
so your bag will be removed and you’ll be called from the plane for a bag
search,” the Dublin baggage expert said.
Lastly,
before sending your luggage down the small conveyor belt to handlers like John,
make sure it’s wheels side up to avoid damage.
No
more basic baggage
Luggage
has evolved significantly in the past few decades and you no longer need to
carry basic black, brown or navy baggage.
According
to Travel & Leisure, black baggage “is one of the most –
if not, the most – versatile color, which is why it’s so popular.”
The
outlet writes, “For this reason, it’s worth selecting a different hue if you
want your luggage to stand out at baggage claim. Instead, consider a patterned
suitcase or perhaps one that comes in a bold color like hot pink.”
And,
if you’re not fond of pink, you can find luggage in many bright, bold colors
that will make your possessions stand out from the rest.
Or
if you’re not willing to part with the containers you currently have, consider
using fabric paint or stickers to add identifying features that won’t interfere
with scanning.
The Dublin Airport handler’s tips should
relieve some stress for travelers across the world!
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