Finding your luggage in a sea of similarly hued suitcase on the baggage carousel can be challenging. When you consider that this is typically done after a long day of travel, the quest to keep track of your bag can be absolutely frustrating. If you’ve been there, you may have considered ways to help your bag stand out from the crowd.

Ribbons are sometimes used to add a splash of color that makes bags easier to identify. But tying on this simple addition to your luggage handle might actually be increasing your risk for a lost or misplaced bag. It can cause the scanners that read the barcode on your bag’s tag to misidentify the destination, connection, or other info. This can lead to the dreaded lost bag.

Ribbons Can Interfere with the Baggage Handling Process

Screening your checked bag and getting it to the right place requires a clear path.

• Scanning for your flight- When you check your bag at the ticket counter, the airline employees will add a sticker to the handle with various information encoded on the barcode. It includes your flight number, ticket number, and other facts that help identify that bag as yours. In the event that ends up somewhere else, employees can scan that sticker to see where it is supposed to be. This helps them contact you to reunite you with your luggage.
• Security procedures - Airlines and the Transportation Security Administration, TSA, have strict security protocols. When you check a bag, it will be screened and kept in a controlled area all the way through arriving at your destination. When you see luggage on a trolley, it’s been scanned and screened using the barcode on the stickers. A ribbon can interfere with this process and slow things down. If the automated scanners can’t read the information on your bag’s tag, it has to be manually screened by hand. This slows the entire procedure down and can result in delayed processing and greater potential for your bag to miss the flight.

Luggage by the Numbers

Check out the stats on luggage handling.

• How many bags are checked each day? - According to the TSA, around 1.4 million bags are screened everyday at airports around the country. This includes checked luggage as well as carry-ons. In some cases, passengers need to gate check a larger bag due to less available room on a particular aircraft. When flights are very full, the allowable two carry-ons may be reduced to one in order to accommodate all passengers. In that case, you can check your bag at the gate and pick it up when you deplane at your destination without having to go to baggage claim.
• How many bags go missing during air travel? - Fortunately, the scanning system does a great job of keeping track of luggage and getting it to the intended destination. On average, only 7 bags are misplaced or lost for every 1,000 bags checked. This is where the scanning system is key. With a sticker, the bag can be scanned and reunited with its owner. If the sticker falls off, it becomes much harder to track.
• How many people check bags when flying? - Around 60% of travelers check one bag when traveling. In recent years, most airlines have started to charge fees for checked bags on domestic flights. Some also charge for carry-on bags. Overweight bags also incur extra fees, as do additional checked bags. If you are shipping multiple or heavy items, you might consider paying for a spot in cargo instead.

How to Keep Your Bag from Being a Target

What happens to your bag at security at your destination?

• Adding colorful tape - If you already have a basic suitcase and want to add some identifying markings to it, look for brightly colored duct tape. You can usually find this at a hardware store. Add a few strips to each side of your bag, pressing securely to make sure that it stays in place. This is just as easy to see as a ribbon, but won’t wave around and interfere with luggage tags placed by airport personnel. 
• Getting a unique bag - For those in the market for a new set of luggage, this might be the perfect time to pick something that stands out from others at baggage claim. Choose a bold color or design that is easy to spot. Bright colors can be easier to keep track of as they go around the carousel as well. You can even get a bag with your face on it, something that no one else will have at the airport.
• Remove old tags - Leaving tags and stickers on your luggage from past trips is a surefire way to interfere with the scanning process in the future. Make sure that you take old items off to make room for the new ones. This doesn’t include your own contact details, which you can keep on without interfering with scanning.

Adding something to identify your bag at the airport is a good idea, but keep the ribbons and bows to packages and gifts. Identify your luggage with colorful tape or a unique bag color or design instead to reduce the chances of your bag getting lost.