Airport baggage handlers recommend avoiding ribbons on suitcases to ensure smooth automatic scanning and reduce the chance of extra manual checks.
Attaching ribbons or other decorations to luggage can cause confusion during screening, often leading to bags being pulled aside for manual inspection. This increases the risk that your bag may miss the flight or be delayed at the destination.
Removing old stickers and labels from your suitcase is another practical step. Multiple labels can cause scanners to misread the bag’s barcode or tag, complicating tracking and potentially delaying its transfer between connecting flights.
Properly orienting your suitcase in transit helps reduce damage. Placing your luggage wheels facing upwards during handling prevents unnecessary scraping or crushing, extending the life of your suitcase and keeping your belongings safer.
Certain food items like Marzipan are discouraged from being packed due to security considerations. Marzipan’s dense composition resembles materials that security systems flag as potential explosives, causing detailed searches and delays.
Choosing packing materials and suitcase accessories carefully can prevent unnecessary hold-ups. Using simple, smooth luggage tags instead of ribbons, and removing old identifiers, improves the likelihood of seamless processing through airport scanners.
Understanding how airport baggage handlers interact with luggage during loading and unloading helps travelers prepare their bags correctly. This awareness translates into faster check-ins, minimized damage risk, and fewer disruptions during travel.
Following these luggage handling and packing guidelines provides peace of mind, ensuring your bag arrives promptly and intact, while avoiding triggers that prompt extra scrutiny from security.