The Importance of Personalizing Luggage for Transit Flights

Personalizing luggage with your name or initials is not just about style; it's a mitigation strategy to save your bags if issues arise during transit flights. When luggage moves between planes without direct supervision, clear identification speeds up tracking and simplifies claims if there's a mix-up.

What Happens to Luggage During Transit?

Your luggage will be automatically transferred by airport staff from one plane to the next. This process involves a conveyor belt system and barcode scanners that sort luggage based on flight number and final destination.

Quoted from SITA Baggage IT Insights 2024, luggage transfers are the primary cause of baggage mishandling. The number of problematic luggage transfers increased from 42% in 2022 to 46% in 2023. This also indicates that long-haul flights with connecting flights are becoming more popular.

Some reasons why luggage might be left behind or swapped:

• Short transit time (less than 2 hours)

• Human error by staff during the baggage sorting process

• Excessive amount of luggage to be handled at large hub airports

• Errors on barcodes or luggage tags

Generally, the process of transferring luggage between terminals can take 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the distance between terminals and the volume of luggage being handled. This short transit time poses a significant challenge for airport staff.

Do I Need to Pick Up My Luggage for a Transit Flight?

The short answer is no, you don't. Your luggage will be automatically transferred to the next flight. You just need to follow the "Transit" or "Transfer" signs at the airport without picking up your luggage.

However, there are a few special conditions where you might need to pick up your luggage during transit. Here's the difference.

When You Must Pick Up Luggage During Transit

• Flights booked separately with different bookings

• Airlines do not have an interline agreement (baggage transfer agreement)

• Transiting in certain countries that require Customs inspection (for example, flights from abroad to the United States, then continuing with a domestic flight within the US)

• Small airports that do not have automatic baggage transfer facilities

When You Do Not Need to Pick Up Luggage During Transit

• Flights booked within a single booking (one ticket)

• Airlines have an interline agreement or are in the same alliance (same airline or partner airline)

• Transiting in countries without Customs requirements for transit passengers

The most accurate way to know whether you need to pick up your luggage during transit is to check the baggage tag when checking in. If your final destination airport code is written, your luggage does not need to be picked up during transit. If only the transit airport code is written, you must pick it up and re-check it.

Baller Team's Experience Losing Luggage and How to Overcome It

Christiani, a member of the Baller team, once lost her luggage on an international flight with only a 1-hour layover. Upon arrival at her final destination, she couldn't find her suitcase on the conveyor belt. It turned out her luggage was among those left behind during transit, just like several other passengers who experienced the same.

This situation is not uncommon. SITA Baggage IT Insights 2024 reported global data showing that the baggage mishandling rate in 2023 reached 6.9 per 1,000 passengers, or approximately 36.1 million problematic bags throughout the year.

At the baggage claim counter, Christiani witnessed how difficult the identification process was. Many passengers could only describe their luggage generally, for example, "a medium-sized black suitcase with four wheels," which made it take longer for airline staff to track down the luggage among hundreds of similar suitcases.

Fortunately, Christiani's suitcase was already personalized with her name clearly printed, and she had also taken a photo of her suitcase during check-in. So, when filing a claim, she could immediately show the photo and specific description of the suitcase. As a result, the claim process went faster, and within 24 hours, the suitcase was found and sent to her address.

Benefits of Luggage Personalization

Here are 3 main benefits of personalizing your luggage.

1. Quick Identification at Baggage Claim

Baggage carousels are often filled with similar-looking suitcases. With a clear name or initials, your luggage can be recognized in seconds, saving time and reducing the risk of taking the wrong bag.

2. Faster Claim Process

If luggage is left behind or lost, personalization provides clear proof of ownership. A photo of the luggage during check-in or a tag with a name helps airline staff identify the luggage more quickly, speeding up the claim process and minimizing waiting time.

3. Prevents Swapping or Theft

Luggage with clear identification is harder to be swapped or taken by others. Other passengers and irresponsible parties tend to avoid luggage that can be easily tracked, making it safer and reducing the risk of loss.

Tips to Prevent Baggage Problems on Transit Flights

The most important step to avoid baggage problems on transit flights is to personalize your luggage with a clear name and photo at check-in. These two things made it easy for Christiani to claim her luggage within 24 hours.

Additionally, there are several extra steps you can take both before departure and at the airport to protect your luggage during transit.

Personalize Your Luggage

Add your name or initials clearly visible on your luggage. Choose a color or font that matches your style or contrasts with the luggage, such as white for a black suitcase. Make sure to choose durable personalization, not stickers that fade easily or come off easily.

Attach a Luggage Tag

Use a unique luggage tag and add information such as your name and email. Choose a strong and durable luggage tag, not a flimsy one.

Place an AirTag or GPS Tracker Inside Your Luggage

If your budget allows, use an AirTag or GPS tracker inside your luggage to track its position in real-time.

List the Contents of Your Luggage

Also create a list of your luggage contents for insurance claims in case of permanent loss. Store this list separately from your luggage (in email or cloud storage).

Check the Destination Label

Immediately check the baggage tag on your luggage after it's attached by staff. Make sure the final destination airport code is printed correctly, not the transit airport code. If it's wrong, ask the staff to correct it before the luggage goes onto the conveyor.

Photo for Visual Documentation at Check-In

This is what the Baller team always does and it has proven to be very helpful. Take photos of your luggage from several angles with your name clearly visible. Don't forget to photograph the baggage tag that has been attached by the staff and make sure the tag number and destination code are visible. This one photo can be a lifesaver if your luggage gets lost.

Back Up Photos to the Cloud

Upload these photos to Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox. Also send them to your email. If your phone gets misplaced, lost, or dies, you can still access this proof from another device.

Record the Baggage Tag Number

Write down or screenshot the tag number. This is the unique code for your luggage in the airline system, useful for tracking if problems occur. Also keep your boarding passes from all your flights.

With these steps, the risk of losing or swapping luggage can be minimized. However, the best protection still starts with the basics, which is ensuring your luggage has a clear and easily recognizable identity from the start.

Baller Indonesia provides various personalization options for suitcases and bags that can be adjusted to your style and preferences. We provide these personal touches to make it easier for you to identify your luggage and bags wherever you travel, designed so your luggage and bags are easily identifiable wherever you travel. Learn more about personalizing Baller suitcases and bags in the article How to Personalize Baller Suitcases and Bags.