Many travelers tie ribbons or cute accessories to their suitcases so they can spot them faster, but baggage handler John from Dublin Airport says these decorations often interfere with automated scanners. Loose items like ribbons, strings, charms, or metallic stickers can block barcode or RFID readers, forcing staff to process bags manually — which increases delays, misrouting, and even the risk of missing a flight. He’s seen decorated bags get pulled from the system entirely because scanners couldn’t read them properly.

John also warns that certain dense foods packed in checked luggage — especially marzipan — can resemble explosives on security scans and trigger time-consuming inspections. To avoid problems, he recommends skipping ribbons altogether and choosing brightly colored suitcases or secure, non-dangling labels instead. With a little preparation and smarter packing, travelers can prevent unnecessary delays and keep their journeys running smoothly.