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?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I too like the VA WP tags which I use in conjunction with the QF WP coaster. I've never had an issue with identifying my luggage, easily and quickly.

I wonder what the missing luggage rate is, due to people either intentionally or unintentionally taking luggage that does not belong to them from the carousel? Seems to me to be a great way for thieves to easily walk off with a lucky dip of goodies.

At the more major airports in PNG, the security teams match your luggage receipt(s) on your BP with the luggage label on the luggage itself, so anyone thinking of travelling in PNG, make sure you keep the BP with the luggage receipts or you may have difficulties in exiting the terminal! Does this happen in other countries?

 

[seanpodge]

{/snip}

At the more major airports in PNG, the security teams match your luggage receipt(s) on your BP with the luggage label on the luggage itself, so anyone thinking of travelling in PNG, make sure you keep the BP with the luggage receipts or you may have difficulties in exiting the terminal! Does this happen in other countries?

It certainly happens in some airports in China. At my now home airport of HRB, everyone gets checked as they leave the luggage claim area. At PEK I think it's more random because of how many people are going through the airport. But certainly keep the luggage receipts until you've made it though the other end!

 

[leadman]

I can remember back in the 1990's at the old Shantou SWA airport, there was an old lady who checked everyone's bag tags exiting. She was ruthless, but we were never sure if she was an official, or doing it as a public service!

 

[Cynicor]

Happens occasionally in Sapporo apparently (twice on about 15 entries)

 

[Durin's Bane]

We use coloured ribbons on the suitcase handles. Touch wood my bags have never been taken by someone else... but once back in 2003 I took someone else's bag off the carousel in Singapore Changi by mistake, only to realise my error when I got to the hotel. I dashed back to Changi, but the passenger who owned it had apparently departed for London (!), with my suitcase sitting in lost luggage which I sheepishly collected.

 

[mrsterryn]

Amtrak check your name to your luggage
My favourite suit case was one which could have been painted by Salvador Dali so many bright garish colours and splatters
Currently I think mine are bright red and also bright pink

 

[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!

View attachment 112786

And just to give an update on "old faithful"; with me now in Asia and we are touching the magic 7 figure number. Was able to buy a right hand wheel on ebay, so did a strip of both the old wheels and refurbished the best parts for the left wheel. Going like magic again and the bag should last another 10 - 20 trips, gathering stickers along the way.

 

[eddie 73]

Rarely check my bag, and when I do or must due to excess weight, my indestructible black nylon 2 wheeler samsonite has qf coaster, ribbon, and a fragile sticker that once got put on the front and never came off.

A mate of mine always hires the brightest ugliest coloured rental cars for easy finding at carparks (smart)... so if vanity isn’t an issue, this philosophy applies nicely to luggage purchases.

 

[love_the_life]

I must be in the minority as I don’t have ribbons on luggage, usually just the QF coaster. Have never had any trouble recognising it to date.
I have blue with green wheels Pacsafe carry on size and MrLtL has a black one. Maybe because if we check them in they are smaller than the other huge cases being spat out.

 

[Pushka]

Ours are identifiable now because after MrPs luggage being dumped out on the conveyor belt in Manchester because of a faulty zip, we use a luggage strap. Rainbow one in fact bought in London. It was cheap .

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

We use coloured ribbons on the suitcase handles. Touch wood my bags have never been taken by someone else... but once back in 2003 I took someone else's bag off the carousel in Singapore Changi by mistake, only to realise my error when I got to the hotel. I dashed back to Changi, but the passenger who owned it had apparently departed for London (!), with my suitcase sitting in lost luggage which I sheepishly collected.

I did that last time we arrived into SYD - we had a large purple case and I pulled it off the carousel, put it on the trolley with our grey case, and only when we were outside did I noice my luminous orange ribbon wasnt there ! I thought damn - someone has taken my ribbon off only to look at the bag tag and see it wasnt mine !! Quick U turn and back to Qantas luggage services, and a tell the guy what I had done. Apparently there were 4 purple cases the same as mine ! I now have 4 ribbons on each bag we use, luminous orange, rainbow, white and electric blue I also now check bag tags

 

[tgh]

10 seconds with a can of fluoro marking paint and it's yours forever….

 

[Denali]

Head Case | FIREBOX®

Personalised luggage covers

 

[get me outta here]

I photo everything before stuff gets packed, eg on the bed, then once the case is trussed up. Has been very useful with colourful straps and tags when it doesn't arrive at the same time as me. Baggage people love it when you show a photo and can share it.