Why You Should Think Twice Before Tying a Ribbon to Your Suitcase

A colorful ribbon tied around your suitcase might seem like a clever way to spot your luggage quickly at the baggage carousel. However, some baggage handlers warn that loose ribbons, scarves, and decorative accessories can occasionally create problems during the baggage-handling process. Modern airports use automated scanners and conveyor systems to sort thousands of bags, and anything loose or attached to a suitcase can potentially interfere with the equipment.

Ribbons can also cause issues if they cover or partially hide important baggage tags and barcodes. These labels help automated systems route your suitcase to the correct destination, so anything that makes them harder to scan could result in the bag being removed for manual handling. Loose straps and oversized decorations can also become caught in conveyor machinery, which may slow down the sorting process.

Instead of using a loose ribbon, frequent travelers recommend choosing a suitcase with a distinctive color or pattern, or using accessories specifically designed for luggage. A secure luggage strap, brightly colored tag, or properly fitted luggage cover can make your suitcase much easier to recognize without leaving loose material hanging from it. It’s also a good idea to remove old baggage stickers, keep current tags clearly visible, and place your contact information both inside and outside the suitcase.

Tying a ribbon to your luggage isn’t prohibited, and plenty of travelers use them without ever having an issue. Still, if you want to minimize potential problems, keeping your suitcase simple, secure, and easy for airport systems to process may be the smarter choice. A few small changes can make your bag easier to identify while reducing the chance that an accessory causes an unnecessary delay.