There are myriad travel tips online that help folks have a smoother and more enjoyable trip. Many hacks start as early as the airport, like the viral airport theory or how to get a free upgrade based on your outfit. There aren’t many concerning your luggage, though.
Yes, the ubiquitous tip of tracking your bags with AirTags and ensuring your suitcase is identifiable with a unique print or design has been featured on travel blogs since the dawn of time. One woman argues there’s another little-known luggage tip that can impact your safety, especially in the age of TikTok.
What’s Wrong With Luggage Tags?
In a viral TikTok, traveler Sammy K (@skzzolno) warns airplane passengers of a common habit that can ultimately put them in danger. She films herself at a store, picking out luggage tags when she issues her PSA.
“This is something that I have never seen someone talk about,” Sammy says in her clip. She shows viewers a standard luggage tag that attaches to your suitcase. These are meant to hold your information should your bags ever go missing or be misplaced.
“This is not safe for you,” Sammy says, holding up a tag with the blank information label visible. “You have your full name on there, you have your phone number, you have all of your contact information.”
She warns that the luggage tags can flip over, making your contact information visible to any passerby. They can not only take a photo, Sammy says, but they can track you down on social media if you share travel content. For example, a person can put two and two together if they have seen you post your suitcase online for packing or unpacking videos.
Instead, Sammy recommends getting a luggage tag with a cover or flip that can obscure your private information. This way, your information won’t be “out in the open.”
“The cheap or cute luggage tag is NOT worth the risk of someone having all your personal information when you’re traveling,” she adds in the caption.
What Did Viewers Think Of This Hack?
Several commenters thanked her for the safety tip, while many others shared other ways you can keep your information safe without buying a new luggage tag.
Many suggested just omitting certain information from the tags. One said, “Last Name, number, and email address. No physical address.” Another advised, “You can also flip the paper over once you fill out your info and write “see reverse” on the back!”
Many suggested just putting your phone number and nothing else. One person, however, had a clever hack in case their luggage ever got lost.
“I have a fake name with my spam email that i’ll check if i ever lose my bag,” they wrote.
If you do want to go the route of buying a safer luggage tag, one user recommended an option.
“I bought metal ones that have a slot that only shows name. It screws onto the bag with a metal loop. It could be removed by the airlines if lost and pull out the paper for my contact info, but it takes some effort,” they wrote.
@skzzolno cover your ass in every which way possible !!!!!!!!! the cheap or cute luggage tag is NOT worth the risk of someone having all your personal information when you’re traveling #travelhacks #traveltips #travelvlogs #travel
How Often Do Airlines Lose Your Luggage?
If you’ve ever had your suitcase go MIA only to lead to a frustrating back and forth between you and your airline, you’re not alone. In 2023, NPR reported that airlines lose up to 2 million bags a year. So it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your luggage, lest you end up like the bride whose airline lost her wedding dress. Yikes.
UPDATE: In an email to BroBible, Sammy says she realized luggage tags were dangerous when she was traveling and consistently posting travel photos of her luggage.
“I would have to make sure that my luggage tag was flipped over so that no information was showing before I took each photo,” she said.
“While doing this I realized that people in person could potentially take photos of this information and have access to me. After I realized this I got all new luggage tags. “
Another safety hack Sammy uses is using carabiners to clip her bag zippers shut.
“This adds an extra step that pickpocketers will not have time to preform while on the move,” she added. “I do this in all busy areas while traveling as well as at concerts and music festivals.”
She issued one more advice, saying, “Trust your intuition when you’re traveling, especially when you’re solo, and don’t be afraid to be mean in order to keep yourself safe.”