Here’s Why You Should Never Tie a Ribbon on Your Luggage

If you’ve ever waited nervously at a baggage carousel, scanning identical black suitcases as they roll by, you’ve probably heard this classic travel tip: “Tie a ribbon on your luggage so you can spot it easily.”

It sounds harmless. Even helpful. A bright ribbon on the handle feels like a simple hack to make your bag stand out in a sea of sameness.

But here’s the truth most travelers don’t realize:

Tying a ribbon on your luggage can actually increase the chances of your bag being delayed, mishandled, or even lost.

What seems like a clever shortcut can interfere with airport baggage systems, confuse handlers, and create problems you won’t discover until you’re standing at your destination with no suitcase in sight.

In this article, we’ll break down:

• Why ribbons became popular in the first place

• How modern baggage handling systems really work

• The hidden risks of tying anything to your luggage

• Real problems caused by ribbons, tags, and dangling items

• Smarter, safer ways to identify your bag

• What airline and airport insiders actually recommend

By the end, you may never attach a ribbon to your suitcase again.

---

Why People Tie Ribbons on Luggage in the First Place

Let’s start with the logic behind it.

Most luggage looks the same. Black, navy, gray, maybe dark red if someone’s feeling adventurous. On a crowded carousel, dozens—sometimes hundreds—of nearly identical bags pass by. After a long flight, jet lagged and tired, no one wants to second-guess every suitcase.

A ribbon seems like the perfect solution:

• It’s cheap (or free)

• It’s easy

• It’s colorful

• It’s visible from a distance

Travel advice blogs, well-meaning friends, and even social media “travel hacks” have repeated this tip for years. It feels practical.

But modern airports are not designed for feelings—they’re designed for machines.

And machines don’t like ribbons.

---

How Airport Baggage Systems Actually Work

To understand why ribbons are a problem, you need to understand what happens to your luggage after you check it in.

Once you hand your suitcase to the airline, it enters a complex automated system involving:

• Conveyor belts

• Barcode scanners

• RFID readers (on some airlines)

• Diverters and sorting machines

• Manual handling by baggage staff

Your bag travels through miles of belts at high speeds, often switching directions multiple times before it ever reaches the airplane.

These systems rely on smooth, unobstructed surfaces to function correctly.

Anything sticking out—ribbons, straps, loose tags, scarves—can interfere with the process.

---

The Biggest Problem: Ribbons Can Jam the System

Here’s the main reason you should never tie a ribbon on your luggage:

Ribbons can get caught in conveyor belts.

When that happens, one of three things usually occurs:

1. Your bag gets pulled off the belt
   The system detects resistance or an obstruction and diverts the suitcase for manual inspection.

2. Your bag is delayed
   Instead of making it onto your flight, your luggage may end up in a holding area to be processed later.

3. Your bag misses the flight entirely
   If the delay happens close to departure time, your suitcase simply doesn’t make it onboard.

Even a thin ribbon can cause enough interference to trigger these issues.

From the system’s point of view, your bag is no longer “safe” to process automatically.

---

What Happens to Bags That Can’t Be Automatically Scanned

When a bag is flagged by the system, it doesn’t get special treatment—it gets slower treatment.

Instead of flowing smoothly with thousands of other bags, it must be:

• Removed from the conveyor

• Inspected by airport staff

• Re-entered into the system manually (if possible)

Manual processing is slower, more error-prone, and more dependent on human availability. During busy travel periods—holidays, summer vacations, weather disruptions—manual handling is often overwhelmed.

This is one of the most common ways bags get separated from flights.

---

Ribbons Can Interfere With Barcode Scanning

Your luggage tag isn’t decorative—it’s critical.

That printed barcode contains all the information needed to route your bag correctly:

• Airline

• Flight number

• Destination

• Transfer connections

If a ribbon partially covers or twists the handle where the tag is attached, it can:

• Obscure the barcode

• Cause it to fold or curl

• Prevent scanners from reading it properly

When scanners can’t read the tag automatically, your bag again gets kicked out of the system for manual handling.

That’s another delay.
Another risk.
Another opportunity for human error.

---

Loose Items Are Treated as Hazards

Airport baggage systems are designed with strict safety standards. Anything dangling from a suitcase is considered a potential hazard.

That includes:

• Ribbons

• Scarves

• Fabric strips

• Old luggage tags

• Decorative straps

• Keychains

Loose items can:

• Wrap around rollers

• Get pulled into moving parts

• Cause belt stoppages

• Damage equipment

When a system stops because of an obstruction, it doesn’t just affect your bag—it can affect hundreds of bags behind it.

That’s why airports are increasingly strict about removing anything that doesn’t belong.

---

Airline Staff Often Remove Ribbons

Here’s something many travelers don’t realize:

If baggage handlers notice a ribbon, they may remove it.

Not out of spite—but out of necessity.

Handlers are trained to reduce risks to the system. If they see something that could snag or jam machinery, they may cut it off before the bag continues.

That means:

• Your ribbon may not even reach your destination

• You lose the very identifier you relied on

• Your bag looks just like everyone else’s again

In some cases, removing the ribbon can even damage the handle slightly if it’s tightly tied.

---

Ribbons Can Fall Off and Create Confusion

Even if your ribbon survives the conveyor belts, there’s another issue:

Ribbons aren’t durable.

They can:

• Come untied

• Tear

• Get caught and ripped

• Fall off during handling

If your ribbon falls off mid-journey, it becomes a loose item floating through the baggage system—while your suitcase continues on without it.

Worse, if multiple bags had similar ribbons, a fallen ribbon could end up near the wrong suitcase, confusing both passengers and staff.

---

The False Sense of Security Problem

One of the most dangerous aspects of using a ribbon is psychological.

People rely on it.

They stop checking:

• The name on the luggage tag

• The flight number

• The destination code

At baggage claim, travelers often grab the first bag they see with a similar ribbon, assuming it must be theirs.

This leads to:

• Accidental bag swaps

• Passengers leaving with someone else’s luggage

• Delays while staff track down the correct owner

Ironically, the ribbon meant to prevent mistakes can actually cause them.

---

Why This Matters More Than Ever Today

Airports today are busier than ever.

With:

• Increased passenger volumes

• Tighter turnaround times

• More automated systems

• Fewer staff per passenger than in the past

There is less tolerance for anything that disrupts the flow.

What might have worked 20 years ago is now outdated advice.

Modern travel requires modern solutions.

---

What Airline and Airport Insiders Recommend Instead

If ribbons are a bad idea, what should you do?

Here are safer, smarter alternatives that don’t interfere with baggage systems.

---

1. Choose a Distinctive Suitcase Color or Pattern

The simplest solution is often the best.

Instead of black or gray, choose:

• Bright colors

• Unique patterns

• Two-tone designs

• Textured or matte finishes

A distinctive suitcase is visible without adding anything that can snag or jam machinery.

---

2. Use Built-In Customization Features

Many modern suitcases offer:

• Color-coded handles

• Customizable luggage tags

• Built-in name windows

• Monogram options

These features are designed to stay flush with the bag and won’t interfere with conveyors.

---

3. Add a High-Quality, Flat Luggage Tag

If you use a luggage tag:

• Choose one that lies flat

• Avoid long straps or loops

• Make sure it’s securely fastened

• Keep information inside, not exposed

Minimal movement is key.

---

4. Use a Unique Strap—Properly

If you want extra security, a tight-fitting luggage strap designed for travel can work—if it meets these conditions:

• Snug against the suitcase

• No loose ends

• Designed specifically for baggage systems

Avoid cheap straps with dangling tails.

---

5. Mark the Bag Internally

A trick seasoned travelers use:

• Put a bright item inside your suitcase near the top

• Use a distinctive lining or packing cube color

If someone opens the wrong bag, they’ll realize it quickly—without risking external interference.

---

6. Take a Photo of Your Luggage Before Flying

This is surprisingly effective.

A quick photo helps you:

• Describe your bag accurately if it’s delayed

• Identify it in airline systems

• Prove ownership if needed

No ribbons required.

---

The Bottom Line: Ribbons Cause More Problems Than They Solve

Tying a ribbon on your luggage feels clever, but it’s based on outdated travel advice.

In reality, ribbons can:

• Jam conveyor belts

• Interfere with scanners

• Cause delays

• Increase the risk of lost luggage

• Be removed by staff

• Fall off and create confusion

• Lead to accidental bag swaps

Airports are engineered environments where smooth, predictable movement matters more than visual flair.

If you want your bag to arrive with you, the best approach is:

• Keep it clean

• Keep it streamlined

• Keep it machine-friendly

The next time someone suggests tying a ribbon on your suitcase, you’ll know better—and you might just save yourself a lot of stress at baggage claim.