Anyone who travels with checked luggage warned of 'risky' move to stop doing
Travellers are no strangers to the turbulence of flying with delays, endless queues and the all-too-familiar inconvenience of cancellations
And that's not to mention wanting to beat a hasty retreat from the airport upon landing. Luggage tags are not just about adding a touch of personal style to your bags; they are crucial for quick identification and can be a lifesaver if an airline misplaces your luggage.
Despite their usefulness, travel experts have sounded alarms over the safety concerns tied to the information displayed on your tags. The eye-catching accessories may be "more risky than stylish", according to the words of caution from 1st Move International.
TikTok has thrown a spotlight on personalised luggage tags, with posts relating to them exceeding 1.8 million, and queries such as "what info to put on luggage tag" skyrocketing by 4,600% over the last three months.
The moving company has provided invaluable advice on which details to share and what to exclude on your tags to prevent unintentional security breaches, reports the Mirror.
Speaking on the matter, Mike Harvey, Managing Director of 1st Move International, advised, "When creating luggage tags for your suitcases, it's crucial to balance providing essential contact information with protecting your personal security."
Read on for a guide from 1st Move detailing what to include and what to avoid on your luggage tags.
What to include on your luggage tags
Full name: Use your full name as it appears on your passport. This helps assist airline staff in locating and safely returning your belongings if they go missing.
Phone number: List a phone number with the country code for quick communication.
Email address: Include an email address for additional contact, especially for international trips. Consider using a separate travel email address to keep it distinct from your personal one.
Information to avoid putting on luggage tags
Home address: For your privacy and security, avoid including your full home address.
Details of valuables: Avoid mentioning any valuable items inside your suitcase to prevent drawing unwanted attention.
Travel plans and destinations: Keep your travel itinerary and destination details private to prevent misuse of your information.
Sensitive information: To protect your personal identity, refrain from including personal identification numbers such as national insurance or passport numbers. This includes avoiding details of travel insurance policy numbers.