A baggage handler's tip for making luggage easier to spot at the carousel is to use brightly coloured duct tape rather than ribbons tied to the handle. The advice emerged after a travel creator, posting as @Jeffandlaurenshow, shared their habit of tying a bright ribbon to their suitcase on Instagram. In response, a commenter suggested a more secure alternative, writing: "Baggage handler friend once said DON’T wrap ribbons around the handle. Instead use brightly colored duct tape. Fluorescent yellow and pink are my go-tos."
Why duct tape beats ribbons
Ribbons tied to handles can come loose in transit, whereas duct tape is less likely to fall off. The tip is aimed at helping passengers avoid the confusion of spotting a similar-looking bag on the belt, particularly at busy airports where mix-ups can happen at arrivals.
easyJet offers its own advice on making luggage stand out. On its website, the carrier said: "Make sure your bags stand out from the crowd on the carousel! We advised attaching something noticeable and unique to your luggage like a colourful ribbon, eye-catching sticker or personalised tag. This will make it easier for you to spot your luggage on the carousel at arrivals and avoid any confusion with similar bags."
Labelling and packing essentials
easyJet also recommends adding a label with your name and contact details, such as address, email and phone number, and placing a copy of these details inside the bag too. The carrier added: "This would really help us reunite you with your bag in the unlikely event of the exterior tags falling off." Passengers are also advised to remove old luggage tags or stickers from previous trips, as a fresh tag is provided at the Bag Drop desks.
While these methods can help ensure your luggage is returned to you, it remains important not to pack any essentials in hold luggage. easyJet's website says: "We recommend packing essential items in your cabin bag, this includes medication, money, valuables and important travel documents. Once your bag is checked into the aircraft hold you won’t be able to access it again until you’re in the arrivals hall of your destination airport."
