The colorful ribbon on the suitcase handle was born from a simple idea: to make the luggage appear quickly on the conveyor belt. However, inside the airport, the suitcase goes through a routine that is far less visible to the passenger — scanners, conveyor belts, automatic readers, and screening processes that need to function in seconds. And it is precisely there that the embellishment can become a delay.

The warning gained traction after John, a baggage handler at Dublin Airport, explained that ribbons, bows, and other accessories attached to luggage can interfere with the automatic scanning process during check-in.

According to him, when baggage is not read correctly by the system, it may be removed from the normal flow and sent for manual processing, which increases the risk of it not arriving on time for the flight.

In practice, the problem isn’t the desire to differentiate the luggage, but rather the location and type of identification chosen. Airports use barcode tags to direct each item to its correct destination. If a ribbon is near the tag, moves during transit, or covers part of the reading area, the scanner may malfunction.

contioutra.com – Airport security officer explains why you should NEVER tie a ribbon to your luggage.

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When this happens, the bag stops automatically moving along the internal conveyor belts. It needs to be inspected by an employee, sorted, and put back into the process. On busy airport days, with short layovers, or when baggage is checked in close to the deadline, this detour can be costly.

Another point mentioned by professionals in the field is the accumulation of old labels. Those labels from previous trips, which many people forget stuck to their luggage, can also confuse the system. An old code that is still visible can cause the reading to point to the wrong route or require manual verification. Therefore, before checking your luggage, it’s worth removing stickers and strips from past flights.

This doesn’t mean that every suitcase needs to be black, plain, and impossible to recognize. The recommendation is to replace dangling items with solutions that don’t interfere with the scanner. Flat stickers, applied away from the baggage tag, work best. Patterned covers also help, as long as they don’t cover the identification placed by the airline.

contioutra.com – Airport security officer explains why you should NEVER tie a ribbon to your luggage.

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Another option is to choose suitcases in less common colors or with a striking texture. A teal, burgundy, dark green suitcase, or one with a discreet design, is usually easier to spot on the baggage carousel than a plain black suitcase with a ribbon tied to the handle.

Large keychains, scarves, long straps, and loose external tags follow the same logic as tape: they can get caught, swing, touch the official tag, or make handling difficult. The fewer loose items on the outside, the less likely the bag will be separated for inspection.

The same employee also drew attention to a curious detail: very dense foods, such as marzipan, can generate suspicious images on the X-ray of checked baggage. Because of their density, this type of item may lead to a more careful inspection and even the opening of the suitcase.

Here’s another simple tip to protect your luggage during check-in: hand it over with the wheels facing upwards. This advice aims to reduce impacts on the wheels during movement on the conveyor belts and during loading. A broken wheel is one of the most common types of damage to luggage, especially when it goes through connecting flights or busy airports.

contioutra.com – Airport security officer explains why you should NEVER tie a ribbon to your luggage.

To identify your luggage without causing headaches, the safest options are:

Use flat stickers on the sides of the suitcase;
Remove old labels before each trip;
Avoid ribbons, bows, and dangling objects;
Choose bags with less common colors or textures;
Use a protective cover without covering the company label;
Attach an internal identification tag with your name, phone number, and email address in case the external tag comes off.
The strap on your suitcase may seem harmless, but it can actually hinder the part of the process that the passenger doesn’t see. If the goal is to quickly identify your luggage, it’s worth investing in an identification system that helps you on the conveyor belt without complicating the work of the scanners before boarding.