Traveler guidance for luggage safety and efficiency

Travel experts and industry professionals have provided various recommendations to help passengers mitigate the risks of luggage damage, loss, and scanning delays.

To prevent physical damage, experts suggest using durable suitcases with high-quality wheels to allow handlers to roll bags rather than throwing them. To avoid confusion on baggage carousels, travelers are advised to use bright identifiers or colorful tags, as dark-colored bags are difficult to distinguish.

To assist in recovering misplaced items, the passenger rights portal Planeclaim recommends placing a sheet of paper with complete contact information inside the suitcase. This facilitates the ‘Secondary Tracing’ process, where airlines open unclaimed bags to identify owners if external tags are lost or damaged.

While making luggage identifiable is important, travelers should avoid using excessive ribbons, strings, or stickers, as airport staff have noted these can interfere with automated scanning processes and lead to manual inspections or delays.

Recent reports from the summer season highlight the scale of lost property issues; for example, the Polish carrier POLREGIO reported finding 637 items left on trains, including backpacks, wallets, and a wedding suit. While 45% of such items have been returned, passengers are encouraged to utilize regional Lost Property Offices to reclaim belongings. Additionally, using balloons to cover container caps can prevent liquid leaks during transit.