Sachin Walls
It was once a tradition for travellers to collect destination stickers from airports and stick them on their luggage. However, this practice has become less common due to the potential for old stickers to interfere with barcode scanning systems used by baggage handlers. These systems use barcodes to identify and route luggage, and old stickers can cause misrouting and delays. While some sources suggest removing all stickers, others suggest that small decorative stickers are harmless and can be left alone. Stickers are also placed on passports at European airports for additional security.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Decoration, souvenirs, identification, baggage handling |
| Types | "Fun" stickers, security stickers, bag tags, barcode stickers, destination stickers, passport stickers |
| Availability | Sold online, provided at airports |
| Opinions | Some sources recommend removing stickers to avoid confusion, others say they are harmless |
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What You'll Learn
Baggage stickers can confuse scanning equipment
While some sources claim that stickers on luggage are harmless, others argue that they can confuse scanning equipment and cause issues with the bag being scanned in the baggage hall. An employee at the LHR airport check-in desk stated that old barcode stickers can confuse the scanning equipment used in baggage handling. To prevent this, they crossed out old barcodes with a black pen or placed white stickers over them.
The purpose of small barcode stickers is to help identify and route luggage if the large tag is lost or damaged. However, leaving multiple barcodes on a bag can make it challenging to identify and increase the risk of the bag going astray. Additionally, baggage handlers primarily rely on the official and current airline travel tag, which contains critical information such as the airline and date.
Some people believe that embellishments in the form of prior travel stickers or expensive designer baggage can make luggage more prone to theft, especially in developing countries or airports with less secure environments. Therefore, it is recommended to remove old stickers and tags to avoid confusion during scanning and potential delays or losses.
While stickers may seem like a fun way to decorate your luggage and showcase your travels, they can inadvertently cause issues with scanning and baggage handling. To ensure a smooth process, it is advisable to keep your suitcase clean and free of unnecessary stickers and labels.
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Barcode stickers help identify luggage
Barcode stickers are an essential tool to help identify luggage and ensure it gets to the correct destination. When checking in bags at the airport, the front desk agent will usually place small barcode stickers on the checked bags. These are often provided with self-service check-ins, where passengers can attach them themselves. The stickers are usually placed in multiple locations on the luggage to increase the chances of being scanned, even if the bag is flipped or rotated.
The barcodes are scanned by machines and help to automatically sort the luggage. They direct the bag to the correct location, ensuring it gets on the right plane and the right luggage carousel at the destination airport. These barcode stickers serve as a backup in case the main baggage tag is lost or damaged. They contain the same number as the main tag, but they do not contain details of the bag's destination.
It is important to remove old barcode stickers, as these can confuse scanning equipment. Some sources suggest that leaving multiple barcodes on a bag can make it harder to identify and may cause delays or errors. However, others claim that having multiple barcodes ensures that the bag can be quickly identified from various angles, reducing the risk of losing the bag.
Overall, barcode stickers play a crucial role in identifying luggage and enabling efficient routing within the baggage handling system. While opinions vary on the ideal number of stickers, it is generally agreed that they provide a valuable backup measure to prevent luggage from getting lost or delayed.
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Stickers can be used as souvenirs
While some sources advise against putting stickers on your suitcase, as they may interfere with barcode labels and cause issues with scanning luggage, others view stickers as souvenirs. In the past, travellers would keep stickers from various destinations on their luggage, creating a unique collection of souvenirs from their journeys.
Stickers can be a fun and decorative way to personalise your belongings and showcase your travels. They can be placed on items such as laptops, water bottles, notebooks, and windows, adding a touch of individuality and serving as a visual reminder of your adventures.
Additionally, stickers can be used as a form of marketing and branding for tourist gift shops and companies. Custom-designed stickers featuring unique destinations, textures, and finishes can be created to promote a brand or location. These stickers can be tailored to specific shapes and designs, making them visually appealing and versatile for different surfaces.
Souvenir stickers are readily available for purchase from various retailers, allowing travellers to acquire stickers specific to their visited locations. Destinations such as Barcelona, Berlin, Lisbon, Singapore, and many others have inspired sticker designs that travellers can use to commemorate their trips.
Overall, stickers can be a fun and creative way to memorialise your travels, decorate your belongings, and share your experiences with others. They can be found or purchased at airports and other tourist locations, providing a tangible reminder of your journeys.
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Stickers are available for purchase online
While it is not advisable to put stickers on your suitcase when travelling, as they can confuse the scanners and cause delays or errors, you can still purchase fun and decorative stickers online.
Redbubble offers a range of airport stickers, including luggage tag designs for various destinations, such as Seoul, Berlin, Frankfurt, Lisbon, and Barcelona. Etsy also has a variety of airport stickers, including custom airport codes, travel stickers, and vintage luggage tag designs. These stickers can be used to decorate laptops, water bottles, cars, and more.
If you are looking for a fun way to remember your travels, consider collecting stickers from the places you visit. While it is not recommended to put them on your suitcase, you can find creative ways to display them elsewhere.
Additionally, some stickers on your passport or boarding documents may indicate that you have been selected for secondary security screening. These stickers are usually placed by immigration staff and are not related to the decorative stickers available for purchase.
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A red sticker on a passport indicates a security screening
While stickers on luggage can be a fun way to commemorate your travels, they can sometimes interfere with the barcode scanners used by baggage handlers. It is therefore recommended that you remove any old stickers from your suitcase before checking it in.
Stickers are also used by airport security to indicate that a passenger has passed security checks and can proceed with their journey. A red sticker on a passport or boarding pass, for example, indicates that any concerns have been eradicated and that the passenger poses no threat. It also reduces the likelihood that they will have to repeat the secondary screening during the same trip.
The purpose of these stickers is to make it easier for passengers to proceed through security without interruptions. A secondary security screening can be prompted by various factors, such as travel history, possession of a suspicious item, unusual behavior, or unverifiable information. However, it is also a random selection process.
While some passengers may find it annoying to be slowed down by security procedures, it is important to remember that these procedures are in place for everyone's safety. Security agents may swab passengers' hands and the bottom of their shoes, and they may also inspect items from their luggage.
In some cases, stickers may be placed on passports to indicate that the passenger has undergone security checks and had their passport checked. These stickers are usually placed by contracted security staff who ask screening questions when passengers check in for international flights. The colour of the sticker typically changes daily or by station.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can get destination stickers at the airport. These are usually provided at the check-in or bag drop counter, or at the boarding gate.
Destination stickers, also known as baggage stickers or bag tags, help identify your luggage and ensure it arrives with you at your destination. They contain barcodes that link the bag to you, the airline ticket, and flight details.
It is recommended to remove old destination stickers from your luggage to avoid confusion and potential delays or errors. Old stickers can interfere with scanning equipment, causing your bag to be misdirected or sent to the wrong location.
