Travelers often tie colorful ribbons to their suitcases to spot them easily at baggage claim, but an airport worker has revealed why this common trick might backfire. According to a baggage handler named John from Dublin Airport, these identifiers can actually cause delays and even prevent your luggage from making it onto your flight.
John explains that ribbons and old travel stickers can interfere with the automated scanning system in baggage halls. When scanners can’t read a bag properly, it gets sent for manual processing, which takes extra time. In some cases, this could mean your suitcase misses the plane entirely. His advice? Remove old stickers and skip the ribbons to keep things running smoothly.
He also shared another surprising tip—never pack marzipan in checked luggage. The sweet almond treat has a density similar to certain explosives, which can trigger security alarms. If that happens, your bag will be pulled aside, and you might even get called back from the plane for a search.
To avoid damage, John recommends placing suitcases wheels-up on the conveyor belt. And if you want your luggage to stand out without causing issues, consider bold-colored bags or unique patterns instead of relying on ribbons.
