Identifying your luggage

[Danger]

I'm interested to learn how people identify (or not) their luggage when they travel.

Domestically in Australia I simply use my Q tag but I only print my FF number on it; I don't put my name or even a contact number. Internationally the Q tags are no good, unless you're flying Qantas or you include all your details.

Do you use a sturdy luggage tag when you travel? Is it open-faced (where the personal details are exposed) or the type where you have to remove a cover or open a slot to reveal the details? Or perhaps you just use one of the throwaway ones available for free at the check-in counters. Maybe you simply rely on the thermal printed tags.

And do you put your name, address and phone number or provide limited details? Do you place any identifying information inside your luggage? I have a concern - possibly unfounded - that putting too much information on tags leaves one open to exploitation of sorts. I also don't like the idea of waiting (on a train, at a taxi line, a check-in counter, at the carousel etc.) and having people see my name and contact details.

How do you go about identifying your luggage when you travel?

 

[BAM1748]

The Knocks and scrapes. ID on the inside.

 

[Flying Fox]

Externally - QFF RFID Luggage Tag with QFF No., Name & +614 mobile number. Also an additional colourful ribbon on a handle.

Internally - Full contact details generally on a business card.

 

[coriander]

AFF SmartTags on outside; blue not black Victorinox cases;. red/white (candy stripe) gift ribbon tied to both portrait and landscape handles. Business address identification plus "travelling" gmail address on inside of case in three places.

 

[Pleb Status]

The newish VA WP bag tags are metal and connect to your bag with a wire rope. These tags are not going anywhere (unless your bag breaks first) and look quite good as well.

Your limited personal details are shielded from view making them perfect choice for an external bag tag.

 

[kookaburra75]

I'm interested to learn how people identify (or not) their luggage when they travel.

Domestically in Australia I simply use my Q tag but I only print my FF number on it; I don't put my name or even a contact number. Internationally the Q tags are no good, unless you're flying Qantas or you include all your details.

Do you use a sturdy luggage tag when you travel? .... or the type where you have to remove a cover or open a slot to reveal the details?

I use the heavy duty tags which just have my name, but can be opened up for the full address and contact details. In some circumstances I leave the Q-Tag on, but it's a balancing act on leaving something on the bag which highlights it as a 'target', or trying to appear to be less attractive

 

[BAM1748]

Anyone have some AFF tags from a few years back they would be happy to part with. Wouldn't mind some more as mine have worn out!

Matt

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How do you go about identifying your luggage when you travel?

Airline specific luggage tag on the day of travel with name, flight number, destination and phone number.

For ease of identification at reclaim, an old airline-branded priority tag.

 

[JohnK]

Pink ribbon/cloth on the top handle. I usually recognise our bags but the ribbon/cloth makes identification a little easier.

 

[drron]

Not only does most of our luggage have a bright colour but all have the same ribbon on the handles.Mrsdrron is a very practical woman.

 

[Milboo]

White case (not very common) and a black and white stripe ribbon on handle. Also have VA WP metal tags too.

I really don't care if anyone sees my name and email or phone number.

 

[Happy Trails]

No special ID - we just use the airline supplied tags on the few occasions we check baggage, but I always take a photo before consigning it to, potential, oblivion.

 

[Matt_01]

QF WP1 coasters,VA WP tags on the outside, Briggs and Riley luggage. I work on the basis there is not many with this combo in AU.

 

[Denali]

If you see this on a bag, its ours.

 

[cgichard]

My dark grey Antler case had 2 misadventures.

Once at LHR it was taken by someone who left their own identical bag on the carousel. Fortunately a helpful person was in attendance at the desk nearby, recognized the name on the left-behind item as that of a well-known journalist. Rang the number of the paper the man worked for, who contacted him still in his taxi on his way back into central London. He turned the taxi around and was given admittance to the baggage area where we effected our exchange of bags with many apologies on his part.

A few years later I was the delinquent. In a rush to check in, I collected a bag identical to mine from the Gatwick-Heathrow bus. Only when I was in the check-in queue did I open the case to put my coat in, and discovered it was full of someone else's ski clothes. Meanwhile the staff at the coach station had found the tag on my bag in external but hidden slot with my name and my sister's address and phone number, where I'd been staying. When they phoned her, all she knew was that I was returning to Australia on a SQ flight. Now it was my turn to rush back and be apologetic.

All this before the days of mobile phones, of course. I still have that case but no longer use it and prefer to travel HLO, and occasionally check in on the return flight, with a bag in an unusual colour and style.

 

[Bundy Bear]

When I need to travel with checked luggage then I use one of those bright yellow Flyertalk tags.

Purchased 4, about 10 years ago and so I rotate them around as the old ones are really getting faded.

The later versions weren't as bright, also noticed a pink flyertalk tag just recently which was nice to see,

When the other competitor to FT started I received their version of bag tags, although they weren't as bright.

 

[flying_duck]

I feel so silly. I don't use anything generally. My bags are pretty unique - bright purple, I have a silver (what looks like a cricket) bag, or cheap walmart duffels. Maybe spoilt never having a bag issue? I just figure if it is lost I can't do anything about it, if it's found by the airline it has their barcode which tells them its me, if someone else picks it up the barcode/detail will help as well. Whats the point of bag tags?

 

[Denali]

Whats the point of bag tags?

To help identify your black bag when there are 237 other black bags on the carousel.

When travelling with lots of transits, I will also include a tag with our name, phone # and the hotel we are heading to. If bag is lost, might help in locating us.

 

[flying_duck]

To help identify your black bag when there are 237 other black bags on the carousel.

Having unique bags saves me from that, I suppose. But I really should have something inside the bag with contact info.

 

[codash1099]

Teal coloured bag, coloured leather bag tags and a yellow strap usually length-ways around the case. I've never come across anything that looks even remotely like this combination (until now, that is). ID tag and itinerary on the inside.