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?

 

[harvyk]

A bright yellow bag tag combined with my Q Tag (even if it's not been used). When I have checked bags I can easily spot mine from the other end of the carousel even with other pax crowding around.

I have my basic contact details written on it. Never put anything inside the suitcase, but do they actually crack them open before declaring them a lost cause?

 

[VPS]

Q tag and coloured ribbon with full ID inside. If people get my email or phone number I'm not that fussed but hate saying the inexperienced travellers with their full name and address clearly visible to all

 

[theblank]

The Airline puts a handy tag on the luggage with my name on it.
And I use a different luggage tag than provided by the luggage maker. That alone is enough to make it stand out.

(and I take a photo of my luggage, most of the time i forget what colour mine is)

 

[seanpodge]

Best way to identify one's luggage at the carousel is to make sure it's not black/dark navy before you check it in. Am convinced that many/most luggage "thefts" are just people accidentally picking up other peoples identical/near identical bag and walking away.

Apart from that, I do have a luggage tag on the bags. One does have some coloured ribbons on it, but given that the bag is big, not black and doesn't have wheels, the ribbons are mainly superfluous decoration.

 

[vetrade]

There are 2 issues:
1. You want to be able to ID your own bag on carousels etc. and avoid other people mistaking your bag for theirs.
2. You want ID with some contact details so you can be re-united with your bag if it is lost in transit.

For #1 we use 2 rainbow coloured bag straps with TSA locks on each case which make them unique - one around the girth and the other lengthways.

For #2 we have an AFF tag (with our full itinerary entered online) plus a yellow tag with just our name, email and mobile no.

We never have our address anywhere in or on our cases as I have heard of people's homes being robbed while they are away due to crooks looking at the address on bags of departing passengers.

 

[jb747]

Just take a rattle can of some horrible colour to it.....

 

[leadman]

Unfortunately "old faithful" is starting to show its age. Its been a great bag but i cannot keep fixing the wheels as the bearings have started to go. I think its done around 750,000 miles. Always can be seen on the carousel!

 

[jb747]

Security guy recently picked up my wheelie bag, and burnt his hand. Bearing is failing, and it becomes extremely hot. Guess I'd better look for a replacement too.

 

[TonyHancock]

Not only does most of our luggage have a bright colour .....

Please don't let your luggage be the same as #those# golf shorts.

 

[drron]

Please don't let your luggage be the same as #those# golf shorts.

I wish it had been.At SYD International security on Sunday whilst I was in the body scanner a fellow picked up my hand carry and was making off with it.He had an identical bag yet without the orange ribbon and AA LTP tag.

 

[Danger]

I decided to go with the leather BRICS luggage tags that come in the QR F amenity kit. You have to remove it the tag from the suitcase in order to see any details. I've simply put my first name and mobile number.

 

[Buzzard]

The bag on this trip is teal in colour, had a Q Tag, an old Qantas Club tag and an AFF Smart Tag. Not a lot of teal bags on the carousel

 

[Justinf]

2017 Richmond Premiership stickers.

 

[leadman]

2017 Richmond Premiership stickers.

So you're not expecting your luggage to get to the other end then!!!!! My wife has Swans number plates and we live in Melbourne, and she can never understand why the car keeps getting hit by shopping trolleys in the shopping centre car park.......

 

[seanpodge]

Just take a rattle can of some horrible colour to it.....

As per the video? (from 3m38s (if it doesn't start from there automatically) to 4m18s).

Do feel that the colour isn't quite garish enough though.

 

[AIRwin]

This thread reminded me of this:
Luggage foul-up, vandalism leave MAS passenger fuming

 

[leadman]

Just finished the Christmas maintenance on "old faithful". I'm estimating it's just done on 1/2 mill miles, 300+ flights. The bag repairers wrote it off twelve months ago saying the wheels cannot be fixed so by a new one. (I found that its a simple re-adjustment and the wheels can be fixed which my cynical has a feeling its a built-in redundancy feature.) Cleaned and oiled the bearings as it had a habit of late of "squeaking" at the wrong time, like going through the customs channels. Don t need any extra tags!!!!

 

[Denali]

Are they bar code stickers? Can the conveyor system pick up a old bar code and your bag end up in the wrong place?

 

[leadman]

Yes, whatever the staff puts on, I just leave on. Never been late, but ironically i sometimes have to carry suit bag and that was delayed/lost three times out of three this year.

 

[leadman]

I also did some reinforcements, which means its going to take some force to take the handle off. Also there is some weak points in the samsonite bags around the clothes holder. A screw here and there fixes the problem.