Should I put a luggage tag on my suitcase?

A luggage tag is a small but important part of your travel experience. While many people prefer carry-on bags, luggage tags are an important part of your checked baggage as they help identify suitcases (especially in the case of loss or delays).



Yes, putting a luggage tag on your suitcase is an essential safety measure in 2026, despite the rise of digital tracking. While many travelers now use AirTags or Tile trackers, a physical tag is the only way for airline staff to identify your bag if the internal airline "barcode" tag is torn off during transit—a common occurrence in high-speed sorting systems. A good luggage tag should include your name, phone number, and email address, but it is recommended to use a tag with a privacy flap to hide your home address from prying eyes in the terminal. In 2026, "Smart Tags" with QR codes are popular, allowing someone who finds your bag to scan the code and contact you through a secure platform without seeing your personal details. It provides a vital "low-tech" backup to ensure your bag is returned if technology or the airline's system fails.

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Luggage tags can help airlines return lost bags. Among the disadvantages of plastic luggage tags are the relative ease with which they may be lost. Depending on the quality, plastic luggage attachments may pop open or detach from luggage when met with the rough and tumble world of air travel.

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Phone number or Email address: Having your phone number or email address on your luggage enables airport staff or other travellers to contact you if your bag goes missing. Make sure that these details are up-to-date before embarking on your travels to avoid any issues.

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Your First Initial and Your Last Name This should go on the very top line on your tag and should be easy to read, especially if you have a name that's on the longer side. Contrary to popular belief, though, you should steer clear of including your entire name on your luggage tag for privacy reasons.

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Follow These Ways to Personalize Your Luggage
  1. Get a Luggage Tag with Your Favorite Saying or Image: ...
  2. Tie a Colorful Ribbon or Scarf: ...
  3. Paint or Draw Directly on Your Luggage: ...
  4. Invest in Bold, Colorful Luggage: ...
  5. Stick Decorative Tape on Your Bag: ...
  6. Get Colorful Accents: ...
  7. Colourful Luggage Belt: ...
  8. Homemade Identification:


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The Benefits of Locking Your Luggage Using a suitcase lock makes it more difficult for baggage handlers or strangers to riffle through your goods at the airport. Not to mention, luggage locks are a great way to ensure your personal belongings won't fall out because the zippers are held together.

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Checked Baggage Screening The majority of checked baggage is screened without the need for a physical bag search. Inspection Notices: TSA may inspect your checked baggage during the screening process. If your property is physically inspected, TSA will place a notice of baggage inspection inside your bag.

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“Mobile phone signals can interfere with aircraft navigational and landing guidance systems.”

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Most airlines will provide you with a paper tag, but between airport shopping, boarding, and being in-transit, those paper markers can easily fall off or become damaged, so be sure to pick the right luggage tag for your travel style.

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Most airlines will provide you with a paper tag, but between airport shopping, boarding, and being in-transit, those paper markers can easily fall off or become damaged, so be sure to pick the right luggage tag for your travel style.

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Smart luggage tags are really convenient for anxious travelers who want to track bags at all times. They can also be helpful in the case of lost luggage or luggage that's slow to make it to the baggage carousel — especially when you're in a hurry.

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Keep checked luggage secure by using a TSA security padlock. The TSA has worked with several companies to develop locks that can be only opened by you and TSA security officers using universal “master” keys, so they do not have to cut locks when searching through luggage.

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Due to enhanced security measures liquids, gels, lotions and other items of similar consistency will not be permitted in carry-on baggage. These types of items must be packed in your checked baggage.

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8 ways to prevent your luggage getting lost
  1. While there's no definitive way to stop your luggage from getting lost, there are some steps you can take to give your bags a better chance. Make sure your bag is tagged properly. ...
  2. Make clear where it's going and who owns it. ...
  3. Avoid tight layovers. ...
  4. Make your bag stand out.


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Though you might find an inch or two of a difference with various airlines, the standard domestic carry-on luggage size is 22 x 14 x 9, which includes the handle and the wheels. This size limit ensures your bag — and ideally everyone else's — will be able to be stored safely in the overhead bin for your flight.

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While other colors are increasingly common, black remains a great suitcase color for hiding signs of wear and tear. You can't go wrong with a stylish black luggage set, especially if you travel for business purposes. A black suitcase is the bag of choice for corporate travelers.

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If weight is important to you for a checked bag with airline weight restrictions, you'll be better off with a lighter-weight polypropylene suitcase or a softside one. In general, a hardside carry-on will weigh anywhere between 5 and 10 pounds and a lightweight checked bag will weigh 9 to 12 pounds.

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