Last Updated on April 25, 2021
When filling out a luggage tag you want to include as much information as you can to increase the chances that you will be reunited with any lost luggage.
However you don’t want to include any personal information that might put your home at risk.
This post is about what to write on your luggage tag and what information it might be better not to write.
Read on and you’ll know how to properly tag your luggage so you can travel with confidence.
You Should Put This Luggage Tag Info
You should write the following contact information on your luggage tag to help you be reunited with lost luggage.
- Your First Name & Last Name
- Cell Phone Number – Make sure you include the country code, especially if you are traveling internationally.
- Hotel Destination Number – If you are traveling somewhere that your cell phone won’t work then you might want to include the hotel phone number. Slide in a slip of paper rather than writing it permanently on the card.
- Your Email Address – It’s usually a good idea to write your email address.
- Work Address – If you want to include a physical address then a work address might be more appropriate than a home address.
What Not To Put On Luggage Tags
For safety it might be best not to write your home address or to include any home phone numbers.
The concern is that writing your home address advertises that your property might be unoccupied putting it at risk for burglary while you are on vacation.
The same logic applies to writing your home phone number. What better way to check that nobody is at home than by calling the home phone. Also, it might also be possible to do a reverse address lookup using your home phone number.
The main reason not to write your home phone number is that if you lose your luggage while on vacation you won’t be at home to take the call telling you where the luggage ended up.
What is the purpose of a luggage tag?
A luggage tag has a few roles.
- A luggage tag helps you quickly identify your bag from the luggage carousel and stops other passengers from picking it up by mistake.
- A luggage tag allows you to personalize your suitcase and add some style.
- A luggage tag provides contact information in the case that luggage is lost
The 3rd role is probably the least important. The luggage label that airlines print at the airport and stick to your luggage has all the info required to reunite you with your suitcase.
That means that the main function of a luggage tag is to differentiate your suitcase from the pack and to add your own style and personality to your suitcase.
For example, these bright yellow tags would make your luggage easy to spot.
You could also add a luggage strap or luggage stickers to further make your bag stand out from the crowd.
Once you’ve personalized your suitcase it’s a good idea to take a photo of your luggage before you check it in. That way if it gets lost you’ll be able to send the airline a photo of the missing bag.
How To Put On A Luggage Tag
If your luggage tag is attached using luggage tag loops attaching them to your suitcase can be confusing.
This video gives you a good demonstration how to attach a luggage tag to your suitcase using loops.
The Verdict
Luggage tags are not essential but they can be nice to have. The information printed out by the airline on their tag should be enough to identify your suitcase should it get lost.
However an extra tag never hurts and the airline printed label could be damaged.
Luggage tags can help personalize your luggage and make your suitcase easier to identify at the baggage claim carousel. They can help prevent another passenger from mistakenly picking up your suitcase.
There is a chance someone could have the same suitcase and the same luggage tag. So check the name on the tag when you pick up any bag to make sure it belongs to you.
And they can also just be cool and a good way to accessorize your suitcase and give it a bit of style.
The best way to avoid losing luggage is not to check it in the first place. If you learn to travel light you will be able to avoid checked baggage fees. You also won’t be troubled by as much anxiety about losing your luggage.
Having said that, a luggage tag is still a good idea for carry-on luggage. You never know when you might be forced to gate-check a carry-on bag if there is limited space in the overhead bins.
There is also the slim chance that a passenger has the exact same type of carry-on luggage as you. A luggage tag will help to avoid someone grabbing the wrong bag from the overhead bin.