The baggage handler at the airport warns anyone who decorates their suitcase with ribbons.
Trying to make your luggage stand out from the crowd can do more harm than good, said this Dublin Airport employee.
You and your belongings must stand out from the crowd when you go on vacation in case someone gets lost in the crowd. This also applies to your suitcase.
In an attempt to ensure that they have at least one pair of underwear and no clothes for the week’s holiday, people decorate their bags with various decorations.
We’ve all been there and there’s nothing worse than trying to put together an ensemble with items from a hotel gift shop, so is it really surprising that individuals want their name emblazoned with large diamonds?
An observant traveler even attached a GoPro camera to his luggage to watch them leave the straps and make their way through the complex conveyor belt system.
Which tells you a lot about our trust issues, but that’s another story.
To make their bags easier to recognize while riding the carousel, passengers attach trinkets, key chains, luggage tags, colored strings, or stickers to them. Another common tactic is to tie a ribbon around the handle.
However, a baggage handler at Dublin Airport says this distinction could completely ruin your holiday.
John, the employee, clarified that adding a personal touch to your priceless luggage could be counterproductive as it might not even make it onto the plane.
“People putting strips on their bags to help identify them can cause problems with scanning the bag in the baggage hall,” he said in an interview with RSVP Live.
“If the bag can’t be scanned automatically, it could end up being manually processed, which could mean the bag doesn’t make it onto the flight,” he said.
“Remove the old stickers from the bag, it can confuse when scanning.”
John also offered some helpful advice for those looking to travel with luggage stress-free, such as rolling the wheels on your suitcase to prevent damage.
However, his basic rule is never to put marzipan in your luggage; therefore, if you are a baker, you should come up with a flight-friendly substitute.
The baggage handler informed me that the thick paste made up of sugar, eggs, and powdered almonds has the “same density” as some bombs, so don’t be surprised that you and your luggage will be separated for inspection.
It’s not worth skipping a family holiday for a bit of marzipan, is it?
It seems that if you want to catch your flight this summer, it’s best to leave the cake materials and decorations at home.
In short, while it’s tempting to customize your suitcase so that it’s easily identifiable, it could inadvertently complicate handling your luggage. As John, a baggage handler at Dublin Airport, pointed out, decorations such as ribbons, stickers, and key rings can interfere with the scanning process, leading to delays or even misplacement of luggage. To ensure a smoother trip, it’s a good idea to keep your luggage as unadorned as possible and remove any old stickers that might confuse you.
Additionally, while you may want to pack baking supplies like marzipan, it’s best to avoid such items as they may trigger an additional security check. By following these tips and keeping your luggage simple and easy to scan, you can ensure your belongings travel as smoothly as you do. After all, the goal is to reach your destination with all the essentials intact and enjoy your vacation without any unnecessary hiccups.