When planning a trip there is something many leave out; something which can save a lot of time if you are ahead of the game. If you have ways to identify your luggage quickly once you deplane, you’ll be able to get out of the airport much faster - and spend more time enjoying your vacation!

It’s not always easy to figure out which luggage is yours in the bustle of an airport baggage claim - next time you’re waiting at the baggage carousel, make a note of how many identical black canvas bags you see. I’m guessing this accounts for the bulk of the bags there in the carousel, right? This is why baggage mix-ups happen so often; a lot of people have baggage which is the same color, size and style as everyone else!

Next time you’re in the market for new luggage, you should really consider getting something that will stand out from the crowd. While this is not an option for everyone, the more adventurous may want to try bags in unusual colors or patterns like polka dots that can be quickly located at any baggage claim. Anything other than the normal black or brown bags will be a lot easier to identify.

Taking Steps To Personalize Your Luggage

One way you can make your luggage stand out is to tie a ribbon or scarf which is brightly colored or features a distinctive pattern. This, of course can work against you if others on your flight had the same idea. Always double check your luggage tags, even if you think no one else could possibly have a neon green ribbon on their suitcase.

Another problem with ribbons or scarves is that they could become caught on something during the handling process. Not only can this slow down or damage the handling equipment, your luggage identification may become damaged or removed completely. If you still want to use this strategy, make sure you also include an actual tag listing all of your contact information.

Additionally, you should put your contact information inside each bag. If your luggage is lost or switched with that of another traveler, this can help your bags find their way back to you. And if your luggage tags should somehow come off in transit, you can then prove your ownership of your luggage to airport personnel.

Personalized luggage tags are something which an increasing number of travelers are considering to make sure their bags don’t get lost. There are a lot of options available for design and color making it much less likely that any other traveler will have exactly the same tags as you. One very popular style is embroidered luggage tags, which feature many different looks to choose from. Look for the most unusual tag possible - after all, ways to identify your luggage are important if you want to spend less time in baggage claim and more on your business trip or vacation.