If you’ve ever stood anxiously beside the baggage carousel at the airport, scanning a seemingly endless stream of identical black suitcases, you know how stressful it can be to spot your own luggage.
Many travelers try to make their bags easier to recognize by tying colorful ribbons to the handles or attaching bright tags and decorations. While this trick might seem harmless—and even helpful—an experienced baggage handler from Dublin Airport says it could actually cause unexpected problems during your journey.
According to John, who has spent years working behind the scenes in airport baggage handling, ribbons can interfere with the automated systems designed to move luggage efficiently through the airport.
Modern airports rely heavily on sophisticated scanning and sorting technology to track bags from check-in to the aircraft. Each suitcase is labeled with a barcode that is read by automated scanners along conveyor belts and sorting systems.
However, when travelers attach ribbons or loose decorations to their bags, these items can sometimes block the barcode or confuse the scanners. John explains that the ribbons people tie to their suitcases for easy identification may prevent the bag from being scanned correctly.
When the system cannot read the barcode, the bag may be diverted out of the automated process.
At that point, the luggage often needs to be handled manually by airport staff. While that may not sound like a big issue, manual handling can slow down the entire process.
During busy travel periods, even a small delay can cause luggage to miss its scheduled flight. In the worst cases, the suitcase may arrive at the destination hours or even days later than the passenger.
For travelers rushing to catch a connection or heading to an important event, this kind of delay can be extremely frustrating. Ironically, the ribbon meant to help identify the suitcase might end up being the reason it doesn’t arrive on time.
Ribbons are not the only surprising item travelers should think twice about packing or attaching to their luggage. John also points out another unexpected culprit that can cause delays during security screening: marzipan.
This sweet almond-based confection, often used in desserts and pastries, may seem completely harmless. However, its density on X-ray scanners can sometimes resemble materials used in explosives.
Because of this similarity, security systems may flag bags containing marzipan or similar dense foods for additional inspection. When this happens, security officers must manually open and examine the luggage to verify that the contents are safe.
While these checks are necessary for safety, they can add significant time to the baggage processing system and create unnecessary stress for travelers.
So what should you do instead if you want your luggage to stand out among dozens of similar suitcases?
Experts recommend choosing a suitcase that is already distinctive. Instead of buying the standard black or dark blue luggage that dominates most airport carousels, consider selecting a bag in a bright or unusual color. Vibrant shades like red, yellow, or turquoise are much easier to recognize from a distance.
Another helpful approach is customizing your suitcase in ways that won’t interfere with scanners. For example, travelers can use stickers, fabric paint, or unique luggage covers to make their bags instantly recognizable.
These options allow you to personalize your suitcase without adding loose items that might disrupt the automated systems used by airports.
You can also invest in a high-quality luggage tag with your contact information clearly written inside. While this won’t help the bag stand out visually, it ensures that airport staff can easily identify and return your luggage if it ever becomes separated from you.
Travel experts agree that small choices can make a big difference when navigating busy airports. By avoiding ribbons and other loose decorations, you reduce the chances of your bag being pulled out of the automated system.
That means smoother processing, fewer delays, and a better chance that your luggage will arrive at your destination exactly when you do.
In the end, a simple ribbon may seem like a clever travel hack—but according to professionals who work with airport baggage systems every day, leaving your suitcase ribbon-free might be the smarter choice for a stress-free trip.