What to Put on a Luggage Tag.
Before you attach your luggage tag, you need to decide what information you want to share. While it’s tempting to write down every detail in case your bag goes missing, less is often more. Here are our tips on what info to put on a luggage tag: [Text Wrapping Break]
- Full name: Make sure your name is on the tag exactly as it appears on your ticket.
- Phone number: Include your country code (e.g., +1 for the U.S) so airlines can reach you internationally.
- Email address: This is the most reliable way for a carrier to contact you across time zones.
Pro tip: If you’re a frequent flyer, consider using a work address or a secondary email to keep your personal details private.
What Should You Not Put on a Luggage Tag?
Privacy is key. We tend to see the good in everyone, and while most people have good intentions you should be aware that unauthorized individuals could access your personal info. Never put your home address on the exterior of your bag, as this can send a signal that your home is empty.
Pro tip: Use a luggage tag designed for privacy like the Db Essential Luggage Tag, to keep your personal details hidden and your bag out of the lost & found.
Where to Put a Luggage Tag.
Where you place your tag is just as important as what you write on it. You want your tag to be visible to handlers but protected from the brutality of airport conveyor belts.
- The top handle: This is the most common spot and the first place a handler will look.
- The side handle: A great secondary location for extra security.
- Inside the bag: Always place a business card or a spare tag inside the main compartment or the mesh pocket. If your external tag gets ripped off, the airline can still identify the owner once they open the bag.
Pro tip: Use TSA-approved locks to make sure security and handlers can open your bag without ruining the zippers.
Explore: How to set a luggage lock.
How to put on a luggage tag on a suitcase.
- Open the clip: Locate the spring-loaded "gate" on the metal hook at the top of the tag. Simply press the gate inward with your thumb to open the clip.
- Choose your anchor: Find a secure attachment point on your bag. Clip it onto the side or top grab handle of your luggage. For backpacks, clip it onto the daisy chain webbing (the rows of loops on the front/sides) or the dedicated attachment points.
- Snap to close: Once the hook is around the handle or loop, simply release the gate. It will snap shut, locking the tag securely in place.
- The tug test: Give it a quick pull to ensure the gate is fully closed.
Positioning Your Tag.
Positioning matters, always attach your tag to the side handle if possible. Top handles are used most frequently by baggage handlers and are more prone to getting caught in conveyor belt machinery. A side-mounted tag stays flatter against the bag’s profile.
For the ultimate "Db ecosystem" experience, attach your tag to the daisy chain web loops found on the front of Db backpacks and rollers. This keeps the tag visible but out of the way of the main handles.
The Security Duo: TSA Locks and Luggage Tags.
Never loop your luggage tag through your TSA lock or zipper pulls. While it might seem organized to keep everything in one spot, a tag can easily jam the locking mechanism or get tangled in the zippers. More importantly, if a TSA agent needs to inspect your bag, a tag blocking the lock is an obstacle they are likely to cut or tear off to gain access.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Where to buy luggage tags?
The days of free paper luggage tags at airport check-in are over at most airports. You can find premium luggage tags through our authorized retailers.
Should I use more than one tag?
Absolutely. We recommend one visible tag on the exterior to help you spot your bag on the carousel, and one ID card inside the bag for the "just in case" scenarios.
Does the tag color matter?
While we love a minimalist aesthetic at Db, a tag with a unique texture or a subtle pop of color can help you distinguish your bag from the hundreds of others in the terminal. Whether you’re heading out for a weekend mission or a month-long trek, taking two minutes to properly label your gear is the ultimate travel hack. Keep it simple, keep it secure, and get back to the journey.
