If you’ve ever tied a bright ribbon to your suitcase to help it stand out on a crowded luggage belt, you’re not alone. Most travelers have tried some version of the same trick — a splash of color, a funny sticker, something to help that familiar black suitcase feel a little less… ordinary.
But according to people who work behind the scenes at airports, that seemingly harmless ribbon might be doing more harm than good.
At Dublin Airport, baggage handler John has watched thousands of suitcases roll past him every week. He’s seen every attempt at personalization: neon tags, keychains, pom-poms, even full-sized plush toys hanging off handles. And while the intention is innocent, John says those add-ons can actually cause your luggage to go missing.
The problem, he explains, isn’t how the suitcase looks — it’s how it’s scanned.
Luggage moves through a maze of conveyor belts and automated scanners before ever making it onto your plane. Anything dangling from a handle — a ribbon, a string, an old luggage tag — can catch on equipment or obscure the barcode the system needs to read. And when the scanner can’t interpret a bag, it’s pulled aside for manual sorting.
And manual sorting means one thing: a higher risk of your bag not boarding the flight with you.
John has seen it happen countless times. A cheerful ribbon meant to help a traveler find their bag instead prevents the system from finding it at all.
He offers another piece of advice: remove old airline stickers. Even faded ones can confuse automated scanners, causing delays or even sending luggage down the wrong chute entirely. They may bring back memories of previous trips, but holding onto them could cost you your next one.
He adds one more practical tip seasoned travelers never think about — place your suitcase on the belt with its wheels facing upward. It may look odd, but it prevents the wheels from getting caught or damaged as the bag moves through the system.
And for anyone traveling with food, John gives a warning most people wouldn’t expect: never pack marzipan. Its dense composition — sugar, almonds, egg — is surprisingly similar to certain explosives on an X-ray. Security may pull your bag aside for extended inspection, and in some cases, travelers have missed their flights because of it.
So while decorating your luggage may feel fun or reassuring, it’s often better to keep things simple. Leave the ribbons at home, skip the novelty add-ons, and avoid packing anything that could slow down your journey.
Travel is stressful enough without giving the baggage system extra reasons to trip up. A little caution can keep your suitcase moving smoothly — and keep you on schedule for the trip you’ve been waiting for.
