What To Write On A Luggage Tag

There has been some talk about what to write on a luggage tag and also what not to write on a luggage tag. In this short article we’ll discuss what information you should and shouldn’t include and why.

First of all, I am glad that you are thinking of using a luggage tag. You wouldn’t believe how many people think it’s unnecessary to use a luggage tag apart from the ones that the airline attaches to your luggage.

Well, let me put it this way – would you like to make sure to be reunited with your luggage? Yes? Well, then use a luggage tag. Now to the next obvious questions:

Should You Put Your Home Address On Your Luggage Tag?

This is where people are divided in their opinions. On one side it would be the easiest to reunite your bag with you if the airline had your home address, or would it?

Well, that is only the case if you’re on your way home.

What if you’re just on your way to your holiday or traveling for business? What good would it be for your luggage to be sent to your home address then? Not so good at all, right?

The other reason for not putting your home address on your luggage tag would also be for privacy reasons.

Let’s say you have a really nice and expensive suitcase. And let’s say that someone thought they would like to own that nice suitcase and would also like to see what’s inside.

Would you also like them to know where you live? Especially while you’re away? Not really, right?

And even if you don’t have an expensive suitcase, you don’t want to give your home address away and risk getting targeted for a robbery while you’re on holidays.

So there you go, in my opinion, your home address has nothing to do on your luggage tag.

Should You Put Your Destination Address On Your Luggage Tag?

It might not be a bad idea as such, especially if you’re staying at a hotel, but again, you don’t really want to give too much information to make certain people curious about what else they could get.

And also in the case of delayed luggage you might have moved on from the initial destination and then it gets harder again to find out where the luggage belongs.

So really, limit the information on the luggage tag to the essential.

---

Should You Put Your Name On Your Luggage Tag?

Yes you absolutely should.

Airlines will use your name as a first guide to identify your luggage.

Let’s say the airline tag has come off, but your name is legible on the luggage tag. The airline can then use your name to check with their records.

Should You Put Your Phone Number On Your Luggage Tag?

Yes.

But if you are traveling internationally, make sure you are able to be contacted, i.e. you might need to enable roaming for your phone.

If you don’t have an internationally usable phone number, you could provide the number of a family member or a friend or a colleague who knows where you will be traveling to and staying at and where they can get in contact with you.

Should You Put Your Email-Address On Your Luggage Tag?

Yes.

In case you can’t be reached through your phone number, it is a way for the airline to get in touch with you and let you know how and where to get your luggage.

If you also don’t have an email-address try and use someone else’s email address, someone who knows how and where to get in contact with you while you’re away.

What Else Should You Put On Your Luggage Tag?

You could put your flight details on the luggage tag. These are basically the same details that the airline puts on their labels.

In case the airline’s label comes off, they could use your provided details to easily identify the owner of the luggage.

Those details include your name, the airport you’re leaving from and your destination airport as well as the flight number and date(s) you’re traveling.

What Else Could You Do To Ensure Your Luggage Gets Back To You?

First of all, write clearly on your luggage tag. This is not the time and place to use your shorthand skills or to show you are a doctor. People need to be able to clearly identify your handwriting.

Or you could use printed luggage tags.

Another important point is to have your luggage tag covered. It will stop people from scanning your details as well as prevent the details to become illegibile because of dirt or grime or in case it gets wet.

Many times you can buy luggage that has a luggage tag included. Use the tag.

One of my suitcases has a luggage tag on the backside of it, which can slide in and out, is therefore covered from the elements and curious eyes, and is really inconspicuous.

Also make sure to have a tag on every piece of luggage, even your carry-on bag.

Keep a copy of your details, as mentioned before, inside your luggage.

If you have multiple bags, make sure all of them have tags attached to the outside and keep your details inside as well in case the luggage tag on the outside goes missing or becomes illegible.

The details you should put inside your luggage include your name, a contact phone number and an email-address.

There are also labels that have a code or microchip included to make it easier to track them.

Also make sure to take off the old airline labels attached to your suitcase to prevent confusion during transportation.

Read more about how to prevent lost luggage to make sure it doesn’t happen to you. But sometimes there are reasons you can’t prevent your luggage getting lost. Many times luggage just gets delayed.

To keep your mind at ease here is what to do when your luggage hasn’t shown up at the baggage carousel.

I hope this article answered your questions. If you have any more questions or comments, leave them below and I’ll get back to you soon.

Happy and safe travels!