Travel Products - Best way to Identify Luggage Bag?

My luggage bag is black and thus most bags when getting it will look similar. Does anyone know whats the best way to identify your bag? I know people put sticker and whatnot but i dont have any of those.

Do we need to put name/address on it like on a white piece of paper? Or does the airport would do that for us?

My luggage bag is black and thus most bags when getting it will look similar. Does anyone know whats the best way to identify your bag? I know people put sticker and whatnot but i dont have any of those.

Do we need to put name/address on it like on a white piece of paper? Or does the airport would do that for us?

It's your responsibility to label your luggage, not the airlines'. That being said, most airlines have some ID tags you can fill out at ticketing/check-in.

We use either bright and gaudy luggage ID tags or a piece of colorful and ugly ribbon tied around the handle.

It might be overkill but before we zip up our bags, we put a sheet of paper that has our names and contact information on top of our clothing.

I laminate a businesscard size sheet with my name and my cellnumbers and email. That's it. No address. Never an address. Never ever.

We have a blue/white crocheted thingy on the handles of all our bags.

I use something like this: http://www.ebags.com/product/belle-hop/handle-wrap-set-of-2/83637?productid=1085648
It is bright and wraps around one of the handles. I usually use a sharpie to write the family last name too.

They can often be found at Target.

I love the personalized luggage straps available all over the internet now, like this (this was a picture I stole from Amazon, there's quite a few companies making them now, some not as wide as this one, quite a few colors, etc)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41h0HqgeVbL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

If you don't want to put your name on it, you can put your dogs name or anything else you will recognize :D

The airport will not put your luggage tag on for you, but will probably have them at the counter to fill out and put on the bag for you. Also put your name and address inside on top of the stuff should the outside tag get pulled off. You can also buy luggage tags in just about any store, something bright and distinctive can also help identify your bag from all the other black bags out there.

Neon Pink shoe string wrapped and tied on one of the handles. Works every time. It is so bright, you can't miss it. Somehow the MIL had a set laying around that I was able to snag. I've seen people do similar things, but nobody with the ugly pink! :D

The best suggestion I've ever heard regarding this is to take a photograph of your bag. It's one thing to describe whatever makes your bag stand out; more valuable if your bag is lost to show a picture to the airline's lost baggage office. You can even forward the picture by email. Cell phone cameras are perfect for this.

I mark my black golf bag with bright blue tape on several sides and the bottom. Hard to mistake my bag for someone else's that way.

I make it easy on myself by gettin different colored bags. One is red and one is green.

I laminate a businesscard size sheet with my name and my cellnumbers and email. That's it. No address. Never an address. Never ever.

Yes, name, mobile number and email only.

For easy ID on the carousel, pick a color other than black/blue/red. I just don't get it why so many people insist on black bags. I have gold, purple, yellow and some others. A black Pelican case I use occasionally has a metallic blue stripe spray painted on it.

I laminate a businesscard size sheet with my name and my cellnumbers and email. That's it. No address. Never an address. Never ever.

Same here. No home address. I'll slip an itinerary inside the bag and write in the place I'm staying. I also put one in one of these tags clipped to the bag. The green tag these guys make really stands out.

http://www.tagsforbags.com/index.asp

hey all. I just received my bag from ebags.cin, It looks pretty decent and at the back of it... it has a spot where theres a piece of paper there to write your name address etc.


Where do you guys who put your name on a slip put it on the bag specifically?

Yes, name, mobile number and email only.

For easy ID on the carousel, pick a color other than black/blue/red. I just don't get it why so many people insist on black bags. I have gold, purple, yellow and some others. A black Pelican case I use occasionally has a metallic blue stripe spray painted on it.

My main check in is red. It's a delsey hardcase spinner and I have yet to see one like mine so I find it easy to spot. I quite often put gaffers tape around it (duct tape is what others call it). Silver, black, brown or even blue. I never lock my bag either so this secures it from accidentally opening and if TSA wants in, all they need to do is cut the tape. Never happened.

Where do you guys who put your name on a slip put it on the bag specifically?

Most bags have mesh pockets inside. I'll stick one in there.

My main check in is red. It's a delsey hardcase spinner and I have yet to see one like mine so I find it easy to spot. I quite often put gaffers tape around it (duct tape is what others call it). Silver, black, brown or even blue. I never lock my bag either so this secures it from accidentally opening and if TSA wants in, all they need to do is cut the tape. Never happened.

Yup, that's true. A red hardside spinner is a pretty rare sight. I take back the "red" ... leaving "black/blue".

I used to do the duct tape thing too but it left a pretty nasty residue. Between that and the little paper stickers from the baggage check tag, my check in bags look pretty nasty as the adhesive picks up all kinds of other gunk from the system.

AGAIN, the sticky answers almost all newbie questions. Here is the direct link to the relevant thread that's also listed in the sticky:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/957689-secrets-luggage-theft-prevention.html

And here is yet another one:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-products/929907-ten-commandments-luggage-identification.html

The Masterthread on top of the Travelproducts forum is stickied there for a reason. It is a wonderful resource for newbies and pros alike. Use it! ;)

Till

I like the dayglo orange tape idea.

Yup, that's true. A red hardside spinner is a pretty rare sight. I take back the "red" ... leaving "black/blue".

Well, I wouldn't go that far. It's just that particular model I haven't seen anywhere else than in the store on Manhattan where I got it. :-)


I used to do the duct tape thing too but it left a pretty nasty residue. Between that and the little paper stickers from the baggage check tag, my check in bags look pretty nasty as the adhesive picks up all kinds of other gunk from the system.

That's another advantage of hard sided. I cloth and a bit of rubbing alcohol, done!

After a while you recognize your luggage easily anyway. That one scuff, that bit of blue tape stuck from that trip last year, the left broken zipper, the smelly, oily stain that US wouldn't compensate you for, etc.

This tread reminded me of something I saw in Orlando about 10 years ago more or less.

Standing at the luggage claim belt. Saw a bag go by with a yellow band that said "THIS IS NOT YOUR BAG!". That's what it said. I remember thinking "Wow! Great idea!"

A woman reached in and picked it up. I thought "That was easy for her to spot it on the belt."

Then suddenly a guy runs up and say, "Maam! That's MY BAG!" She says something like, "I'm sorry, it looks just like mine!" He says "You have a yellow band that says this is not your bag?" She said......

..... wait for it....

"I thought it said this WAS my bag!"

:D

After a while you recognize your luggage easily anyway. That one scuff, that bit of blue tape stuck from that trip last year, the left broken zipper, the smelly, oily stain that US wouldn't compensate you for, etc.

Part of the problem is somebody else may think they recognize it. If there's something distinctive on it, they won't mistake it for their bags and zip off not realizing it until they get home.

Fair enough.

Even though my luggage is marked uniquely enough, I still get people pulling my stuff off of the belt and walking away with it. :mad:

That's another advantage of hard sided. I cloth and a bit of rubbing alcohol, done!

Might be my bad luck, but every hard side I've ever had, when checked, was destroyed fairly quickly. Corners crushed, and cracked shells. I've stuck with cloth/ballistic and have had better luck.

Last time I checked my carry-on ballistic, they trashed the wheels. Both of them. Can't imagine how. It was almost surreal the way both wheels were bent and flat on one side with the rubber rim missing.

Might be my bad luck, but every hard side I've ever had, when checked, was destroyed fairly quickly. Corners crushed, and cracked shells. I've stuck with cloth/ballistic and have had better luck.

Last time I checked my carry-on ballistic, they trashed the wheels. Both of them. Can't imagine how. It was almost surreal the way both wheels were bent and flat on one side with the rubber rim missing.

Well, that's actually quite easy to explain if you have witnessed how some of these automated baggage handling systems work in the bowels of the airport.

The baggage is placed on these large belts and the typical SOP is for it to be placed in a manner such that the bag is supported from the bottom, and no part of the bag should touch the sidewalls of the conveyor system. (Some airports actually have "bins" for each bag but those are pretty rare.) Now, if you bag is accidentally placed in a manner in which the wheels are touching the sides of the conveyor system but not along the rolling axis, and the bag gets transported the entire distance (can be up to a mile at times) with the wheels rubbing against the side but not rolling, the wheels will completely flatspot and sometimes get bent.

The key word in this story is Orlando.

This tread reminded me of something I saw in Orlando about 10 years ago more or less.

Standing at the luggage claim belt. Saw a bag go by with a yellow band that said "THIS IS NOT YOUR BAG!". That's what it said. I remember thinking "Wow! Great idea!"

A woman reached in and picked it up. I thought "That was easy for her to spot it on the belt."

Then suddenly a guy runs up and say, "Maam! That's MY BAG!" She says something like, "I'm sorry, it looks just like mine!" He says "You have a yellow band that says this is not your bag?" She said......

..... wait for it....

"I thought it said this WAS my bag!"

:D

Might be my bad luck, but every hard side I've ever had, when checked, was destroyed fairly quickly. Corners crushed, and cracked shells. I've stuck with cloth/ballistic and have had better luck.

Last time I checked my carry-on ballistic, they trashed the wheels. Both of them. Can't imagine how. It was almost surreal the way both wheels were bent and flat on one side with the rubber rim missing.

Mine's done very well in the 7 years I've had it. Although, the last trip it got a chunk of plastic taken off on the trim/bowl where the handle slides down. Still holds together. Still working. Still able to do a bunch of trips. But I do have my eyes on that Phil Keoghan set. I just need a reason to get the set.

My main check in is red. It's a delsey hardcase spinner and I have yet to see one like mine so I find it easy to spot. I quite often put gaffers tape around it (duct tape is what others call it). Silver, black, brown or even blue. I never lock my bag either so this secures it from accidentally opening and if TSA wants in, all they need to do is cut the tape. Never happened.

Gaffers tape and duct tape are different. Real gaffers tape tends to be much more expensive, but leaves little if any residue. Still, I guess my question in this context is a bit difference: How do I have someone else not think my bag is their's? I have no trouble identifying even my black bad visually. I tend to notice what is the right size, scuff marks, handles on what sides, what arrangements of pockets, etc... and I can't remember the last time I mistook someone else's bag for mine. Now, the reverse, that happens...

Gaffers tape and duct tape are different. Real gaffers tape tends to be much more expensive, but leaves little if any residue.


True! I tend to have access to the former. ;-)

Still, I guess my question in this context is a bit difference: How do I have someone else not think my bag is their's? I have no trouble identifying even my black bad visually. I tend to notice what is the right size, scuff marks, handles on what sides, what arrangements of pockets, etc... and I can't remember the last time I mistook someone else's bag for mine. Now, the reverse, that happens...

The tape helps. Really does.

How do I have someone else not think my bag is their's?

Yep, that's the reverse side of the medal. The ID must be so distinctive that anyone else couldn't possibly think it's theirs.

A full round of neon orange tape around the bag should do the trick. If not, put your initials with a sharpie onto the tape.

Till

My main check in is red. It's a delsey hardcase spinner and I have yet to see one like mine so I find it easy to spot. I quite often put gaffers tape around it (duct tape is what others call it). Silver, black, brown or even blue. I never lock my bag either so this secures it from accidentally opening and if TSA wants in, all they need to do is cut the tape. Never happened.

Yup, that's true. A red hardside spinner is a pretty rare sight. I take back the "red" ... leaving "black/blue".

I used to do the duct tape thing too but it left a pretty nasty residue. Between that and the little paper stickers from the baggage check tag, my check in bags look pretty nasty as the adhesive picks up all kinds of other gunk from the system.

I have two hardside spinners for checking in, one red and the other florescent lime green. I also have my organization's logo silkscreen onto the top and bottom.

ID tag is my FF luggage tag. I use older one's with the same account number. The airline can access your home information without it being on public display.

Top of my luggage on the inside I have a printout of a photo of the content. My bags have been opened but never anything missing. there is also my itinerary in an envelope marked as such for the airline to use for reuniting us.

Friend posted this on another board today. She was on her way to Nashville, ended up in the wrong parking lot at LGA, by the time she got to the right lot she was running late

So by the time I got to the right place I had less than an hour to make my flight. Ok so I figured I'd still make it. The bus driver dropped me off first and I grabbed my bags - 1 check and 1 carry on. Made it to the gate and was just about to board when my cell phone rings. It's some guy saying he has my bag!!! What????? Our bags are identical and I never noticed. So his bag is now on the way to Nashville! Luckily he still has mine!

And that's why it's important to identify your bags, not just so you can find them, but because you don't want anybody else grabbing it by mistake.

She's sending his bag back to him.

hey all. I just received my bag from ebags.cin,

You had me scouring the internet for a TLD I'd never heard of....then I realized that i & n are close to o & m on the qwerty keyboard http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i251/benzomatic/Emoticons/icon_smile_tongue.gif

Get the FT tag!!!

The best suggestion I've ever heard regarding this is to take a photograph of your bag. It's one thing to describe whatever makes your bag stand out; more valuable if your bag is lost to show a picture to the airline's lost baggage office. You can even forward the picture by email. Cell phone cameras are perfect for this.


That's a great tip. I remember reading that one traveler even takes pictures of the door to his hotel room right after he checks in, because it's easy to forget your room number.

That's a great tip. I remember reading that one traveler even takes pictures of the door to his hotel room right after he checks in, because it's easy to forget your room number.

Now some of the hotel chain's mobile apps have a feature where you can store your room number. Which is quite handy if you're staying in the same chain of hotels that have the same/similar layout

My luggage bag is black and thus most bags when getting it will look similar. Does anyone know whats the best way to identify your bag?

I tie a ribbon of one color on one handle and a luggage wrap of a different color on the second handle. The combination is unique enough and has never failed me.

This is to spot my bag from far. Once I get close, I still take a look at the name tag, just to make sure. :) The luggage wrap looks a little like this:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/22465224?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=21486607510&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem
but I got mine a free gift from an organization.

Now some of the hotel chain's mobile apps have a feature where you can store your room number. Which is quite handy if you're staying in the same chain of hotels that have the same/similar layout

I tie one end of a piece of string to the door handle and then take the other end with me. When I want to find my way back I just follow the string, gathering it up as I go. Simple, cheap and reliable.

I think tfar has suggested ziptie's for securities purposes at one point...... Perhaps he/she can correct me.

Anyway, since that suggestion, I've been using colorful ziptie's for all my check in bags. Serves two purpose: 1) I know if someone looked in there and 2) I can identify it quickly.

Clearly marking your luggage to make it easy to identify on the airport's baggage carousel isn't about creating beauty. Often, it's the exact opposite that makes your item stand out. Some travelers place their suitcase in one or more large green or black garbage bags and initial the outside of the bag with tape. This result isn't attractive, but your luggage will be easy to spot -- and safe from being damaged by rain or spilled liquids.

My luggage will never be worried about being mistaken by anyone whatsoever and doesn't look hideous either! A nice large Pelican case that I NEVER have to worry about getting damaged, wet, cracked, dust, or anything else similar. One large flat black surface with a bunch of personalized stickers that look "cool" and easily identifiable along with 2 TSA locks on both sides.
Oh and have I mentioned that it almost always weighs JUST under 70lbs so it'd be a PITA to attempt to accidentally take ;) And no I never pay for overweight fees due to my FF status.

I heard that it can be dangerous to put tags on the outside of your luggage? Does anyone abide by this? When I was younger I had a duffle with a large print for easy recognition, but now that I'm older I've gone with more sophisticated styles, but I think some kind of a ribbon or scarf tied around the handle is still necessary for identification and I have a ID tag on the inside.

A couple of poster here have admonished us to never put our addresses on the luggage tag. I can only assume that this warning is because someone working at the airport or scouring bags will figure out that I am on vacation and burglarize my home while I am away.

I don't see the logic in this fear. First off, we would have to assume that this nefarious criminal is checking bags at my home airport and catch my address when I am on my way OUT of town. This would presume that the criminal works with the bags since it is not unattended on my way out of town, only on y return. If they see it at the baggage claim, they would know I am headed home and we would probably arrive at the same time.

So, this person probably works with baggage in one way or another. He/She would presumably have to finish their shift before leaving for the one hour drive to my house. They are taking a chance that I have left no other family behind (which is almost never the case) and also be confident that this is not a one day round trip for me (which it often is - but, admittedly, I don't usually check bags on this type trip).

If the person sees your address at your destination airport, they would have to either catch a flight to your home airport and rent a car or happen to have an accomplice in the area of your home.

I can think of a hundred more reliable ways for an enterprising criminal to find an empty house to burglarize. I always put my address on my luggage tag.

I always put my address on my luggage tag.

What for? Most airlines are far more likely to make contact by phone or email rather than write a letter.

What for? Most airlines are far more likely to make contact by phone or email rather than write a letter.

I guess my point is more "I am not afraid to put my address on my luggage tag". But I do figure that if I put all of my contact information than my chances are better hat I would be reunited with my bag. I lost my cell phone on vacation once and had no way to check my voice mail or email for a few days. If I had lost my bags as well, I guess I would have given the airline my home phone or my husband's cell phone but why not have all the appropriate info already on the bag?

I guess my point is more "I am not afraid to put my address on my luggage tag".

Fair enough. If I am traveling by AA or a partner, I gather that my name is enough, as I have a long history and pretty high status with them. I do add a few phone numbers such as my mobile, a number back home, as well as one at destination (needn't be mine, only it should be answered).

As long as tags survive, I believe they will get my bag to me somehow. When all external tags may be lost or destroyed, it is important to be able to provide a description that would let them identify my bags; that requires more thinking and planning.

As long as tags survive, I believe they will get my bag to me somehow. When all external tags may be lost or destroyed, it is important to be able to provide a description that would let them identify my bags; that requires more thinking and planning.

That extra planning is simple... Always put a copy of your itin inside your bag. It contains carrier, name and confirmation number.

Both your reservation and a bag claim entry would have contact info.

If I forget to put an itinerary copy inside, I'm covered (though w/o an itinerary maybe not for the most timely delivery of a delayed bag) with a label. I use a 1" wide bright orange P-Touch tape with my name, FF#, email, and office and mobile phone. I add some spaces to double the tape length, then insert a 3" Ziptie and fold it over onto itself. That goes through a zipper pull or strap that will be visible when the bag is opened. Or if you have RedOxx bags and don't use the little stainless cable lock and product ID dog tag you can use or buy some cable locks instead of a zip.

http://www.redoxx.com/Cool-Luggage-Accessories/Cable-Lock/91100/170/Product

Re: luggage tag with name/address info.

It can be useful in getting your bag back to you. I don't include a street address myself, but I do include phone (especially on the outbound destination) and email. I also try to remember to put a copy inside with my itinerary.

I've had a bag 'lost' in the system because the airline baggage tags disappeared in the system (lots of damage to the carry straps of the bag, too). They were able to get in contact with me because of the info on the baggage tag.

Depending on the airline/worker/bag, they may or may not open the bag to look for identifying information. If the bag is locked, they may not break the lock/cut the ziptie (I always lock when coming back from or traveling during trips overseas and I always use zipties on outbound/domestic US itineraries). Unfortunately, that means they may not see the helpful information inside the bag.

Odd topic, I've always known what my luggage looks like even when I was using Samsonites which everyone had, mine always looked like mine, even when there was other luggage of the same model on the belt. Now I use silver coloured Rimowa Salsa luggage and I rarely if ever see anyone else with the same where I travel.

Some of the bag labels form airlines as well as the destination do have the surname form the booking (in a smaller font) on it.)

If your bags don't stand out though, even with a small hand written label it is hard to spot. Just put some color on it so it stands out. (Be it stickers, straps or ribbon).

As for writing your name on your bag, that's a contentious issue. Is a thief really doing to drive to your house or call his friend in your neighbourhood to come and rob your house while you’re out of town?

Some of the bag labels form airlines as well as the destination do have the surname form the booking (in a smaller font) on it.)

If your bags don't stand out though, even with a small hand written label it is hard to spot. Just put some color on it so it stands out. (Be it stickers, straps or ribbon).

As for writing your name on your bag, that's a contentious issue. Is a thief really doing to drive to your house or call his friend in your neighbourhood to come and rob your house while you’re out of town?


Thieves, either working solo, or in a gang, look for opportunities.

The carry-on left alone for a moment, the passenger buying a newspaper, drink, or meal, hailing a taxi, or distracted away from the carry-on by someone for a short moment. As videos taken of thieves in action illustrate, this can be outside or inside an airport. And once a bag is stolen, it is almost immediately looted in a restroom stall if inside, or a vehicle if outside.

Thieves will observe a " mark " or person to steal from for a bit, but unless they have prior knowledge of what the person is carrying in the way of valuables ( diamonds, securities, etc.) , it is the opportunity that presents itself as the final green light to steal or not. Many of these criminals will actually fly after stealing, on to other domestic or international targets. At one time non-passengers were not allowed inside the baggage claim area. I haven't noticed this being enforced much in recent years, and it presents an opportunity for theft at some airports.

Going back to the original thread question, I would buy whatever luggage case ( carry-on or checked ) you decide you like, and add a personal touch as mentioned above with banding, colour, or a special luggage tag such as the FT one mentioned. Black, poly, aluminum, fabric, it is your choice. Just guard and protect your luggage as best you can.

Note this does not cover the new phenomenon regarding checked luggage theft inside the airport by slimey employees. Or inside the cargo hold itself as recently shown with the multiple arrests by Alitalia at Milano-Malpensa. To combat that I would restrict valuables to carry-on only, as wisely mentioned previously.

i've been to soooo many car shows over the years i tend to grab lanyards and cut off the ends where the clip is located. i've taken some hankook lanyards (white with black lettering) and tied them tightly around 1 of the handles and it's an instant "there's my bag" reaction when i'm at the baggage carousel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v172/cayun/Mazda3/91ea9878.jpg