# Is it really that hard to know which piece of luggage is yours? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 1, 2013, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067 "2013-10-01T03:28:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/41 "2013-10-01T21:44:48Z")
My son had the words: “Not Yours” embroidered on his bag. ---
**Author:** ![JessEnigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cdc98d/32.png) [@JessEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessEnigma)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/42 "2013-10-01T22:01:26Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > Unfortunately, there are luggage fairies. > > I once felt like an idiot because I waited and waited for my bag to show up. Finally, bags stopped coming out of the shoot and there weren’t many left. I knew one couldn’t be mine because it had a big orange tag on it, but I decided to go ahead and check anyway. Turns out, it was mine. The tag had been added by the baggage handlers. Was your bag overweight? The luggage fairies (in the guise of the people at the check-in desk) come and decorate my bags with a bright neon tag whenever they’re overweight – it’s for the baggage handlers and has a little notice about proper lifting. Or perhaps there really are luggage fairies and they decided to spruce up your suitcase a bit. Either or. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/43 "2013-10-01T22:28:01Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > I bought a red one and I still have trouble. I’m not sure what my problem is, probably that I just never look at the thing. I really don’t care what it looks like, so I should probably just spray paint a huge X or maybe a swastika so nobody accidentally walks away with it. I suppose painting [this on the side](http://www.sneakerheadvc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Biohazard_Black_Yellow.jpg) would be a no-no? 😃 > [@pullin](#): > > My son had the words: “Not Yours” embroidered on his bag. I like your son’s style. In my 46 years of living, I’m starting to realize that yes, it is really that hard to do/not do simple things for a lot of people. I think the problem is the whole “thinking” thing - they just do, they don’t consider. ---
**Author:** ![Topologist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/topologist/32/3208_2.png) [@Topologist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Topologist)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/44 "2013-10-01T23:30:42Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > Sorry, I’m not a topologist or a luggage connoisseur. I am a topologist, but I can only tell bags apart if they have a different number of handles. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/45 "2013-10-01T23:40:05Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > My bags are a green tapestry pattern, so they are very easy to spot. > > I just read Michael Frayn’s [Skios](http://www.amazon.com/Skios-A-Novel-Michael-Frayn/dp/1250032148/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1380641871&sr=8-1), a comic novel in which the entire plot turns on people picking up the wrong luggage. Reminds me of the movie What’s Up Doc? Great Streisand comedy. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/46 "2013-10-01T23:43:51Z")
> [@JessEnigma](#): > > Was your bag overweight? The luggage fairies (in the guise of the people at the check-in desk) come and decorate my bags with a bright neon tag whenever they’re overweight – it’s for the baggage handlers and has a little notice about proper lifting. > > Or perhaps there really are luggage fairies and they decided to spruce up your suitcase a bit. Either or. I think it was overweight, but the tag was definitely not added at the counter while I was present. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/47 "2013-10-01T23:57:12Z")
Well, **Cat Whisperer** , THAT would get attention. To be fair, I once had to deal with a suitcase that was such an indistinct _object_ I would go through every storage closet in my house twice before running into it right there where I had left it. My usual domestic checked case is a rolling Travelpro bought back when everything was black and Travelpros lasted forever so it is still kicking around. Distinguishing method involves strategically placed strips of blue/red/yellow tape on at least 4 of the 6 faces of the suitcase, and around all the carrying handles, in a pattern that’s not garish but recognizable at some distance. My business overhead carry-on is a dark blue/black garment bag and again, lengths of colored tape wrapped around the handles/straps. At SJU they used to do spot checks of the airline’s luggage routing tag vs. passenger’s claim stub when exiting baggage claim (which is a ticketed-passengers-only zone here) but long ago everyone but the AA concourse gave up on it and it’s not even always there any more. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/48 "2013-10-02T01:23:01Z")
After 9/11, it got a lot harder. Now, luggage became much more similar looking to each other because of regulations. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/49 "2013-10-02T01:36:56Z")
I just thought of a skit for the next Airplane! movie. (What are we up to now, 13?) Everybody on the plane has the exact same size, type & color bag, with no distinctions. At the baggage carousel, pandemonium ensues. ---
**Author:** ![agnesnitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@agnesnitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agnesnitt)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/50 "2013-10-02T01:56:11Z")
I used to live in a large but physically isolated town. We had a small one gate airport with a lot of commuter airline traffic. Luggage was delivered to an outdoor table and just laid out. So, get out of your aircraft, walk over to the table, wait, take your bag, go home. So, when we landed I ran into the airport to use the head, and when I got back outside to the luggage table, the only bag left was a bright green bag. I _knew_ my bag was on the plane. I’d handed it over when I got to the plane on the tarmac at the originating airport. I looked on the tag on the remaining bag and it had a phone number on it. I called the number (at an outdoor phone booth!) and when a woman answered, I asked if they had just flown it to the airport. Yes, she said. I asked her to look in her bag and tell me if anything in there was actually hers. Long pause. Finally, “No, I picked up the wrong bag.” I told her I’d deliver her bag and we’d do a swap. and drove to her house. When I got there, she was very apologetic, that ‘all bags look alike.’ Her bag was a bright green, 26’ pullman. Mine was a black overnighter about 15’ long. Apparently, to some people the shape “rectangle” is all they see. Color, size, fabric, decoration, make no impression. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/51 "2013-10-02T02:10:54Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I just thought of a skit for the next Airplane! movie. (What are we up to now, 13?) > > Everybody on the plane has the exact same size, type & color bag, with no distinctions. At the baggage carousel, pandemonium ensues. I can totally see that - fistfights, hair pulling, eye gouging, etc. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/52 "2013-10-02T02:16:44Z")
> [@agnesnitt](#): > > Her bag was a bright green, 26’ pullman. Mine was a black overnighter about 15’ long. Um… I hope you mean 26" and 15", otherwise you lead a very unusual life. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/53 "2013-10-02T03:15:35Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Um… I hope you mean 26" and 15", otherwise you lead a very unusual life. May work at designing Stonehenge stage sets… ---
**Author:** ![agnesnitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@agnesnitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agnesnitt)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/54 "2013-10-02T06:26:49Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Um… I hope you mean 26" and 15", otherwise you lead a very unusual life. Yes you’re right, it should have been " and not '. I’ve been working 6 day weeks and I’m punchy. But I have led a very unusual life, just not dimensionally. > [@](#): > > May work at designing Stonehenge stage sets… That’s a good one. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/55 "2013-10-02T07:39:50Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I tie a long “shocking pink” athletic shoelace to every luggage handle. Never had a problem. The problem is when there are 342 other people who have had the same idea. I just write my name on it. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/56 "2013-10-02T13:01:45Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I just thought of a skit for the next Airplane! movie. **(What are we up to now, 13?)** 😕 Huh? There’s been a grand total of … 2. It’s been _31 years_ since the sequel came out. Are you somehow confusing Airplane! with, like, Police Academy\* or something? - even though they’re nothing alike and the PA franchise has “only” 7 films. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/57 "2013-10-02T14:01:13Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I suppose painting [this on the side](http://www.sneakerheadvc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Biohazard_Black_Yellow.jpg) would be a no-no? 😃 When I worked an outage at Ginnea Nuke in Rochester NY someone put a leftover radiation control point sticker on their car as a bumper sticker. So the guys working radiation control swiped the car, filled in all the blanks, set up a barrier around the car complete with step off pad and bin for anti-c clothing and gloves. Took him an hour of going to different bosses to get the right people to be assigned to come disassemble the joke. [yes, even though it was a joke, access control and health techs had to actually authorize the various steps of taking it all apart. Moral of the story is don’t screw around in a nuke plant …] ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/58 "2013-10-02T18:35:45Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > After 9/11, it got a lot harder. Now, luggage became much more similar looking to each other because of regulations. What regulations?:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/59 "2013-10-02T21:12:23Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Reminds me of the movie What’s Up Doc? Great Streisand comedy. When I was little, I liked to reenact the final chase with my Matchbox cars. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067/60 "2013-10-03T01:02:05Z")
It’s easy not to recognize your bag if you bought it on the trip. Yes, it happens - it happened to me about 20 years ago; my checked bag broke one of its straps as I was removing it from the baggage carousel on the first leg of my trip. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-that-hard-to-know-which-piece-of-luggage-is-yours/670067.md?page=4)