An airport worker has revealed a common mistake travellers make that could result in their luggage being lost.
If you’ve ever been in the unfortunate spot of touching down only to discover that your luggage didn’t make the same journey - you’ll know what a nightmare it is.
And there’s a fairly simple error you could be making that makes it more likely.
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In a post from the official Ontario International Airport TikTok account, a luggage handler explained: “Let’s say you flew American [Airlines], and then a month later you flew Southwest [Airlines], well there’s a little sticker that goes on for American that tells the computer that it should go to there.
“So if your old American sticker is on there there’s a chance it’ll get scanned instead of the new one. It just depends how it’s clocked and where the stuff is. It might end up somewhere else and not get on the plane.”
The tip came as a big surprise to some folks who admitted to leaving stickers on their luggage, with one person saying: “Useful info, had no idea.”
Another wrote: “Pro tip right there! Good to know.”
And a third admitted: “Seems common sense… Yet I feel I have forgotten at some point.”
However, others said they were aware of the potential problem and were pleased that the airport had shared the clip to alert others.
“Thank you! I tell people this all the time,” said one.
While someone else asked: “People don’t remove old stickers and tags? I thought this was common sense.” Apparently not, pal.
Last month, a TikTok user enlisted the help of a tiny camera to show the journey our luggage goes on at the airport.
Thomas Miller put the camera on the handle of his suitcase before heading to the airport.
In the clip, we see him placing it onto the scales at check-in before it moves along on a conveyer belt behind the airport staff who are taking boarding passes from his fellow passengers.
The case then seems to ride almost on a mini rollercoaster of a conveyer belt, going down slopes and hitting into side walls to redirect its journey.
Eventually, after a series of up and downs and through little curtains, we see the case about to be picked up by a baggage handler.
Then, it is squeezed into the back of a vehicle with a load of other cases to be taken to the airplane and onto Miller’s destination.
So really, it's had quite the ride before even making it into the skies.
Claire Reid