Real reason why you should never tie a ribbon to suitcase - not for security

A baggage handler has revealed why passengers should avoid tying ribbons to their suitcase before jetting off on holiday.

Many travellers opt for adding distinctive markers, such as ribbons or stickers, to their luggage to make it more easily identifiable on the baggage carousel. According to an airport worker, this tactic may backfire, potentially preventing the suitcase from being loaded onto the flight altogether.

In an interview with RSVP Live, the worker explained: "Ribbons people tie onto their suitcases to help identify them can cause issues with the bag being scanned in the baggage hall. If the bag can't be scanned automatically it can end up in manual processing, which could mean your bag doesn't make it to the flight. Take old stickers off the bag, it can cause confusion with the scanning process."

He added people should never pack marzipan as it can have the same density as explosives. As a result, both the bag - and the bag’s owner - are hauled off the flight.

It comes after an expert warned travellers about turning airplane mode off during a flight.

Whilst many airlines offer purchasable Wi-Fi, passengers still cannot use cellular service on planes. This means travellers cannot call people at 35,000 feet or even do some doom-scrolling, unless they purchase Wi-Fi. Experts have also now warned why taking your phone off airplane mode may be risky.

Any interference could "potentially lead to missing critical information like traffic alerts, runway assignments, or changes to the route. Any misunderstanding of these transmissions could lead to dangerous situations very quickly," commented Bobby Dutton, a commercial pilot, flight instructor, and engineer who runs the website Think Like a Pilot.

Whilst most aircraft today are built to limit the risk of interference, Sigurdsson explained it could still happen and the risk is especially important "during critical phases of flight such as take-off and landing". He added that: "Aviation safety is based on layers of protection, and restricting cellular signals in flight is one of them."

Dutton also explained that aviation is about making good choices "before you get in trouble" and if there is an chance that cellular service could cause an issue, airlines should be proactive in eliminating the threat. Banning cellular activity in the skies means airlines are being proactive to best enhance safety provisions.

Sigurdsson concluded that while "a single phone may not cause a major issue, multiple active devices transmitting signals inside the cabin" can create a bigger safety risk. If airlines did allow passengers to use cellular service on planes, most passengers would be likely to use their phone and therefore the risk would be increased.

Another reason why passengers cannot use cellular service on planes is due to airlines wanting to minimise distractions during take off and landing, Sigurdsson commented. "The crew needs passengers’ full attention," he said. "Using personal devices can delay responses in case of an emergency".