When you’re gearing up for a vacation, making sure your luggage stands out is a top priority. After all, nobody wants to waste precious travel time searching through a sea of identical black suitcases. But according to a baggage handler at Dublin Airport, adding ribbons to your suitcase might do more harm than good.

Many travelers personalize their bags in hopes of avoiding mix-ups. It makes sense—no one wants to arrive at their destination only to discover they’ve grabbed the wrong bag and are now stuck with someone else’s wardrobe. That’s a nightmare scenario, especially if it means surviving on just one pair of underwear for the entire trip!

We’ve all been there—digging through overpriced gift shop clothing just to put together a halfway decent outfit. So, it’s easy to see why travelers go the extra mile to mark their suitcases. Some slap on giant, glittery stickers with their initials, while others get creative by attaching trinkets, keychains, or even brightly colored luggage tags.

One particularly cautious traveler even went as far as strapping a GoPro to their suitcase, keeping a digital eye on its entire journey through the airport’s complex baggage system. While that level of dedication might seem excessive, it’s understandable—many of us have trust issues when it comes to airline baggage handling, but that’s a whole other conversation.

The Problem With Ribbons and Extra Decorations

A baggage handler named John, who works at Dublin Airport, issued a warning about overly decorated suitcases. While personalizing your luggage might seem like a great way to avoid confusion at baggage claim, it could actually derail your travel plans altogether.

John explained that adding things like ribbons, strings, or other hanging decorations can interfere with the airport’s baggage scanning system. If the scanner can’t properly read your bag due to these attachments, it may need to be manually processed. And if that happens, there’s a real chance your suitcase won’t make it onto your flight in time.

To avoid this, John advises travelers to remove any unnecessary decorations, including old luggage stickers. Outdated airline tags or labels can confuse the system and cause additional delays, which no one wants when they’re trying to make a flight.

More Baggage Handling Tips for Smooth Travel

Beyond avoiding ribbons, John shared some other helpful travel tips. One particularly useful piece of advice is to always place your suitcase with the wheels facing up when checking it in. This helps prevent damage to the wheels, ensuring your luggage stays in good condition throughout the trip.

But perhaps the most surprising tip of all? Avoid packing marzipan in your suitcase. Yes, you read that right—marzipan.

For those unfamiliar, marzipan is a sweet mixture of ground almonds, sugar, and egg, commonly used in baking. While it may seem like a harmless treat, its dense texture actually resembles certain explosives on airport security scans. That means if you’re carrying marzipan in your luggage, don’t be surprised if security pulls you aside for additional screening.

Now, imagine missing your flight over a piece of marzipan. That’s definitely not the kind of souvenir you want to bring back from your trip!

Keep It Simple for a Hassle-Free Flight

At the end of the day, skipping the ribbons and leaving the baking supplies at home might be the best way to ensure a smooth airport experience. The last thing you want is to deal with delays, misplaced luggage, or unnecessary security checks when all you’re trying to do is enjoy your vacation.

So, next time you’re packing, stick to simple identifiers—like a discreet luggage tag or a unique color suitcase—and save yourself the headache. A hassle-free flight starts with smart packing!