Black Bag War

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

20 Mar 2006 03:23 PM

When I travel from my home in Wisconsin to my parent's home in Hilo, Hawaii, I fly in and out of smaller airports and I check my bags all the way through to my final destination. That means I avoid the "black bag war." You know, the inevitable jostling that takes place at baggage claims around the world. It includes hordes of grumpy passengers ready to pounce on their black bag...or is it my black bag? Recently, the airline refused to check my luggage all the way through (forcing me to transfer my own luggage to a connecting flight) and I found myself in the Honolulu Airport (with a 22-month-old on my hip) watching as more than 250 passengers shoved their way to the front of the luggage carousel to grab their black bag before someone else took it by mistake. Since then I have been experimenting with ways to make my black bag stand out.

First, I tried the "Easy Spot ID Strips" and "Easy Spot Handle Wraps" made by a popular travel supply company. The neon luggage tags are durable and bright, however, they are not that large. Meaning, when you are standing in a crowd three-people-deep, unless the bag comes down the luggage slide upright, no matter how bright the tag, it can easily go by unnoticed. The same goes for the low-tech means of identifying bags, including tying ribbons on bag handles. Or my mother's method: tie scrap pieces of upholstery fabric around the handle. The ribbons and fabric can easily rip off in the hands of luggage handlers.

Then there was the "Big Tag," from another luggage company. It measures 4.5 inches in diameter and comes in a rainbow of colors. While it may be considered gaudy, that is the least of its problems. A friend of mine who is a baggage handler says some of his co-workers use the tags to "assist in handling the bags." So, basically, you're lucky if the tag is still attached by the time your bag arrives at your final destination.

I even considered trading in my black bag for a bright pink one I saw in a travel magazine. (My husband talked me out of it.) But, the idea of colorful bags is not being lost on leading luggage manufacturers. In fact, I have seen safari luggage in travel catalogs, featuring suitcases with jungle stripes, spots, zebra styles, and leopard styles with lilac leather trim. (My husband wasn't "wild" about those either.)

I'm still weighing my options, but in the meantime I may consider employing a method my grandma instituted years ago. In 1989 she hand-stitched a dozen multi-printed fabric swatches onto her black suitcase and has never had a problem identifying her bag. My brother reasons it's because no one else wants it.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Lisa P (24013) 22 Mar 2006 12:51 PM

Having been in the military and done a lot of traveling on leave, I always got a kick out of those people who use the same methods to make their bags stand out. I can't even count the number of black bags I've seen with identical duct tape "X"s on them!

As for me, I avoid the hassle by picking up gaudy scarfs at thrift stores for about a dime each and wrap them securely around the handle of my bag. I make sure to leave enough loose so that I'll see it coming down the carousel but not enough for baggage handlers to get a grip on. After 15 years, it still works!

This is also a great method of identifying a purse. If somebody steals a black purse, you're pretty much guaranteed to never find it in a crowd, but if they steal one with a bright green scarf you can always track them!

Heather Long (16954) 22 Mar 2006 01:32 PM

Hi Michele,

Great article. I've had similar problems and since we travel so much, we've done just about everything from sewing things onto the bags, to adding colorful scarves to putting bead danglies on the zippers.

laura kanoa (11) 26 Mar 2006 02:28 AM

Hi, Michele! This has always been a problem, especially when travelling with family members who also have the same black bag. We've tried all the tricks, my newest the next time the family travels is to get fabric paint and create a visible design on the front and back (hopefully it'll be tasteful and not too shockingly bright)!

Hermie (31) 26 Mar 2006 04:57 AM

Hello, Michele! I agree, you do need to identify your luggage uniquely. My daughter is traveling today with grandpa to the mainland. So to distinguish hers, I have attached an orange hawaiian slipper luggage tag along with an orange crocheted slippers that grandma made for this trip. I will find out shortly how this works out. Great article! Let the games begin ...