Why You Should Always Remove Old Baggage Stickers Before Your Next Flight

Have you ever landed at your destination, only to be hit with the sinking realization that your luggage didn’t make the journey with you?

If so, then you know it as one of the most frustrating travel hiccups imaginable—and sometimes, believe it or not, it’s not the airline’s fault. Why?

Well, it could be something as small and seemingly harmless as a leftover baggage sticker from your past trip that you forgot to remove.

A Tiny Sticker, A Major Problem

Even though travelers are usually aware to arrive at the airport early, sort their liquids correctly and take carry-on bags, many do not know that unremoved baggage stickers can easily cause their bag to go somewhere else.

Recently, a TikTok user at Ontario International Airport in California showed how this innocent mistake happens very often. In the video, an airport worker warns:

“Let’s say you flew American, and then a month later, you flew Southwest. That little American Airlines sticker left on your bag can get scanned instead of the new one—and suddenly, your bag is heading to the wrong terminal, or worse, the wrong city.”

How Baggage Stickers Work

Although these stickers look like tiny pieces of travel souvenir, each one includes a powerful barcode with all the details. Bag tagging also means inserting your flight number, airline and travel date which ensures your bags reach you the right way.

Your bags are checked through the scanner when you get in, at every transfer and before they are put in the luggage compartment.

Because barcodes are printed in different places on your suitcase, there is a risk they might all be scanned by mistake. That kind of mistake could mean your bag ends up someplace else.

“Even if the first person scans the right tag, the next person might scan an old one—and then chaos follows,” explains the Ontario airport worker.

A Seasoned Traveler’s Close Call

Even the most experienced flyers fall into this trap. Just ask Harvey Silikovitz, a well-traveled member of the prestigious Travelers Century Club, who has journeyed to over 100 countries and territories. After a recent trip from Chicago to New York, Silikovitz found himself staring at an empty baggage carousel.

“Usually they [airport staff] will remove the stickers, but if you leave them on, you take the risk that they won’t,” he said. “They scanned my old sticker, which had a destination of Chicago.”

Because of the error, his suitcase was sent back to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, even though he had already landed in New York. Luckily, he thought to call the airline and ask if the old sticker could be used instead of the right one. Asking that question helped him find the bag right away.

“If I hadn’t had the presence of mind to call them and say ‘Could this have happened?’ who knows how much time would have gone by?”

Thanks to his contact info being visible on the bag, airline staff were able to identify and reroute it back to him.

How to Avoid This Mistake

The good news? Preventing this issue is incredibly simple—and takes less than a minute.

“Get into the habit of removing the sticker,” Silikovitz advises. “Do it either when you get to where you’re staying, or even better, right after retrieving your bag.”

Here are a few other travel-smart tips to keep your luggage on track:

• Remove all old stickers and tags as soon as you get home or when you retrieve your bag.
• Ensure a new baggage tag is securely attached by the check-in agent.
• Hang on to your baggage claim sticker (usually given with your boarding pass).
• Track your bag using your airline’s app—most now offer real-time baggage updates.
• Add an ID tag or your contact info inside and outside your bag for extra assurance.

Final Takeaway

Don’t let your suitcase fly solo. While airline bag handling mistakes can happen, checking your bag for old stickers can prevent hours of stress, especially when you are traveling on a tight schedule or overseas. Those little stickers have a big impact, both in size and importance.

When you pack for your next trip, keep in mind that a small sticker could cause your bag to travel around the world without you. That’s a kind of adventure you should definitely stay away from.