It may seem like a smart move, but it could cause serious problems for you
When it comes to traveling, there’s a lot to keep in mind. The TSA has so many rules and regulations, it’s easy to get confused and forget a few along the way—like, which electronics are now banned from checked luggage and which seemingly solid foods actually count as “liquids.” (Looking at you, peanut butter and brie.) And even though the Department of Homeland Security is now letting us keep our shoes on when going through security, you’re probably going to second-guess yourself for the next year.
Nestled among all these to-dos, though, is something that most travelers think they’re doing right but are actually making a mistake with: the luggage tags on the bags you’re checking. You might have heard that you should remove them as soon as possible since they can cause your luggage to end up in the wrong place the next time you travel. Plus, what’s the point of keeping them on once you’ve landed at your destination? You’re already there! But you might want to think twice before ripping them off the second you grab your bag at baggage claim, because doing that can have some surprisingly serious consequences.
Read on to find out how those tiny luggage tags could cause a huge problem—and what you should do instead.
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What kind of information is on luggage tags?
Your luggage tag is basically a mini snapshot of you and your trip. It’s packed with important (and personal!) information. Here’s what you’ll usually find printed on one:
- Passenger’s name: Your name is front and center on the luggage tag.
- Passenger name record: This digital key, also known as a PNR, links your flight and travel details together.
- Baggage sequence number: This number is the order in which your bag was checked in on the flight.
- Flight details: This includes your airline name or code, flight number, departure date, and destination airport codes.
- Date of travel: This is the day your flight is scheduled to take off.
- Barcode or QR code: The airline and airport staff use this to scan and track your bag electronically.
- Routing information: This code usually consists of a mix of letters and numbers—often a three-letter airport code followed by a string of numbers, like JFK 045312. It lets airlines know where your bag is headed, including connecting airports and your final destination.
- Cabin details: Sometimes, your luggage tag will reveal whether your bag belongs to business class, economy class or another class.
- Unique tag number: This special ID links directly to your bag in the airline’s system. It’s usually found near the barcode or at the top of the tag.
Here’s something else worth noting: Some personal details, like your contact information, might be included on the luggage tag as well. But that’s usually on the back and visible only to airline staff to help protect your privacy.
Why shouldn’t you remove these tags at the airport?
According to an anonymous Delta claims manager on Reddit, scammers are hanging around baggage claims watching for people who peel them off, then scooping up those bags to steal enough information—like your travel itinerary and flight details—to file “missing items” claims. “From my own personal experience in currently dealing with this, it is causing issue[s] with reimbursing the real people if they submit a legitimate claim,” they wrote.
And it’s not just the big paper tag you need to worry about. Those little sticker receipts that airport workers stick on your bags at check-in can be just as dangerous if they fall into the wrong hands. Each one is like a mini version of your luggage tag, often showing your baggage tag number, flight details and, at times, airport codes. Leaving either of these tags behind at the airport is basically handing scammers a free pass to your identity and possibly your money too. (More on that below.)
How big of a problem is this?
While there aren’t any official statistics on luggage-tag fraud, the Delta claims manager on Reddit claims that Delta has been getting an “influx of fraudulent claims.”
One traveler on Reddit confesses, “I remember exactly zero details from a news report I read several years ago about why you should never throw these away at the airport, or a hotel, but it seemed bad enough that I have always made sure to save them until we got home.” Another user notes, “I take my tags off as soon as I get my bag and stuff the tags inside my personal item. I believe my priority/business class tag had me targeted by a pickpocket many years ago.”
Plus, this is one of the many scams that may have been included in a 2024 global study by the online protection company McAfee Labs, which revealed that 28% of Americans have fallen victim to travel-related scams. Around 24% of those victims lost more than $1,000 in a single incident.
What else might scammers do with this info?
That unique baggage number isn’t random—it’s a direct link to your passenger record in the airline’s system. With it, a scammer could access details like your itinerary, your contact information and even your home address. Here’s how it works: The barcode on your luggage tag can be scanned with a barcode or QR code reader or even a phone app. Once that code is read, it can unlock your frequent-flier account, which often holds a goldmine of information: past and upcoming trips, saved payment methods and loyalty points. That means it’s not just about someone knowing where you’ve been or where you’re going; it’s about them having the tools to impersonate you.
With that access, fraudsters can do real damage. They can pose as you when calling the airline, cancel or reroute your bookings or drain your points. Worse, they can tinker on the back end of your account, possibly changing your preferences or redirecting refunds, so you don’t realize something is wrong until you’re at the airport, stuck and out of options.
Another risk you may not have considered? With access to your travel dates and your home address, they can perfectly time a break-in.
How should you discard those tags instead?
When your trip wraps up, plan to discard your luggage tags at home, where you can shred or destroy them. And while you’re at the airport, popular TikTok traveler and flight attendant Ally Case recommends “making sure that your luggage tag has your contact information facing the other side. … I see so many people with luggage tags and their information displayed for everyone to see—their name, their address, their phone number, their email—and that is way too much information for just anyone to have.”
Some airports have also taken steps to help you get rid of those tags safely. “Japan had secured bag tag disposal receptacles near the secured exit of baggage claim … this explains why,” another Reddit traveler noted. Multiple sources say they popped up after a 2022 law pushed for more plastic recycling as part of Japan’s broader fight against waste. All Nippon Airways (ANA) says the bins let airports collect paper and plastic from tags separately, and they’ve actually been recycling paper from baggage tags since at least 2010. It’s a thoughtful measure that’s not yet widespread.
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Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- HNR Hotel News: “Report Reveals Over 25% of Americans Affected by Travel Scams”
- Reddit: “Toss your bag tags at home!”
- ANA Inspiration of Japan: “Notice regarding ANA Baggage Tag Kiosk (baggage tag issuing machine)”
- Fox News: “Airline passenger claims thieves are using discarded bag tags for fraud scheme”
- ANA: “Resource Conservation and Recycling”
- TikTok: @americantravelfamily
- TikTok: @allycase1
