11 Checked Bag Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

For many travelers, checking luggage is non-negotiable. Checking a bag can make a trip easier in some ways: It frees up your hands, and rather than lugging your belongings in and out of the plane yourself, it just magically appears at your final destination. Other travelers, however, consider checking luggage a travel nightmare, since it means they’ll have no control over what happens to the checked bag once it’s out of sight. But handing your luggage off doesn’t have to feel like a gamble—and we spoke to airport baggage handlers to get their expert tips to make the process as smooth as possible.

Many of the common mistakes they share are ones you’re probably making—but don’t worry, they’re also easy to fix. Below, luggage handlers and ramp agents reveal how you should properly travel with checked luggage. From using luggage straps to ensure your bag won’t burst open to preventing toiletry spills with leakproof bags, these tips can help you avoid a checked bag disaster—starting at $6.

Best Checked Bag Tips Overall:

Mistake: Packing your clothes half-hazardly

The Fix: Use packing organizers

Bagail 8-set Packing Cubes

Overpackers, beware: All too often, ramp agents and luggage handlers witness a checked bag burst open because it’s stuffed to the brim. When this happens, “everything inside the suitcase goes flying all over the ramp,” says Roni Faida, retired baggage handler with 15 years of experience. 

In these situations, packing cubes aren’t just a handy organization tool or space-saving hack—they’re an essential safeguard for preventing your clothes from getting lost on the tarmac and in baggage handling areas. “If you’ve packed with cubes, your things stay together and can be picked up easily without getting ruined,” adds Faida. 

Mistake: Packing bulky prescriptions

The Fix: Put them in a travel pill box

Holii Travel Pill Organizer

Many travelers know to put their important medications in their carry-on—but Faida says she’s seen plenty of other passengers improperly pack them in their checked luggage. 

She once found a bottle of epilepsy medication that had fallen out of someone’s checked bag on the luggage cart while loading bags. “I couldn’t track down the owner,” she recalls. Because of mishaps like this, “it’s best to keep medication with you at all times” while using “a travel pill case that you can keep on board with you.” There are so many shapes and sizes of pill organizers on the market to choose from—this Holii daily pill organizer is a compact and budget-friendly option at $6. 

Mistake: Putting items in open side pockets

The Fix: Making sure they’re securely packed away

Luggex Checked Suitcase

It may seem convenient to stuff last-minute essentials into the side pockets of your checked bag. But Faida warns that you should “never” pack important items there, especially flat documents or electronics. These are the first pockets to break or open during the loading process, and compartments that have Velcro closures are especially prone to accidental spills. “It happens more often than you’d think,” she says. 

If you appreciate the side pockets for organization, at least make sure they have zippered closures. Otherwise, you can cut your losses and invest in a bag without the temptation of side pockets—they’re usually less bulky and include more pockets on the interior for storage.

Mistake: Trusting flimsy luggage tags

The Fix: Swap them for tougher versions

Merimang 2-pack Aluminum Luggage Tags

It might be tempting to tie on a paper baggage tag during check-in, but Faida says that these tags tear easily. Should it rip during transit, your checked bag will become anonymous again. 

She suggests a two-fold approach—invest in a sturdier baggage tag, like this one made from aluminium, and put a piece of paper with your name, flight number, destination, and contact information inside your checked bag. “If your luggage tag falls off, which happens often, the baggage office can instantly have your information and reach you directly,” says Faida. 

Mistake: Using two-wheeled luggage

The Fix: Buy four-wheeled suitcases

Samsonite Freeform Large Checked Suitcase

Once upon a time, two-wheeled suitcases had their moment. But when it comes to purchasing checked luggage, Rachel Bacha, a ramp agent for more than five years, says to skip them. 

“When luggage is loaded, four-wheeled bags are rolled into place, but two-wheelers usually have to be slid, or even tossed into the plane’s cargo hold,” says Bacha. This amount of rough handling can damage your bag, she adds. “I always suggest a four-wheel suitcase; it’s way easier for you to move through the airport and easier on your luggage once it’s out of sight.”

Mistake: Not packing your toiletries correctly

The Fix: Prevent spills with leakproof bags

Caija-H Quart-sized Leakproof Bags

So many travelers either don’t use bags for their toiletries—and when they do use a bag, they often don’t double bag their liquids, says Bacha. “Leaks happen very often, especially since some bags get tossed during loading,” she says. 

Bacha’s tip? “Keep all liquids in a secondary sealed pouch or reusable leakproof bag; it’s a simple way to prevent suitcase soup.”

Mistake: Choosing a black suitcase

The Fix: Use a colorful luggage cover

RainVillage Travel Luggage Cover

The next time you wait for your checked baggage at the carousel, take a look at just how many black suitcases twirl round and round the conveyor belt. You might even spot a few black suitcase owners mistakenly picking up the wrong bag time and time again, due to the number of nearly identical black suitcases. 

An easy fix is to “skip the black suitcase and choose a color or pattern that stands out so your bag doesn’t disappear in a sea of black,” suggests Faida. “When hundreds of identical bags are stacked together, yours becomes almost impossible to spot, for you and the baggage handlers.” If you aren’t in the market for a new suitcase and yours is indeed black, consider buying a vibrant luggage cover to put over it. “This immediately makes your bag recognizable,” says Faida.

Mistake: Overpacking

The Fix: Scale back your list (literally)

Travel Inspira Luggage Scale

Overpacking is a common mistake that all baggage handlers hate. Overpacked luggage is more prone to popping open, which can lead to lost items and may even injure the agents handling your suitcase. 

“People should pack smarter for what they actually need,” says Foster. If you simply can’t scale back your packing list, he says to either “invest in an expensive suitcase that can handle the stress of your overpacking” or purchase a luggage scale that will help you stay under the weight limit, which will ultimately put less stress on your bags (and the agents handling them).

Mistake: Packing valuables in your checked bag

The Fix: Stash them in your carry-on

Taygeer Carry-on Backpack

Stop putting valuables in your luggage—period. “You want to keep all essential items on you at all times; laptops, medication, chargers, personal documents, and jewelry need to be carried on,” stresses Foster. 

From lost luggage to damaged goods, there is no shortage of things that can go wrong when you check your valuables. “Bags get tossed and stacked on [top of each other], which can potentially damage what’s inside your luggage,” says Foster. Your bag can also be placed on the wrong plane, or if your aircraft has maintenance issues and you have to fly on a different plane, your bag can get left behind. 

“I suggest that people buy a specialized backpack that’s tailored to carrying valuable items,” advises Foster. That way, you’ll know where all your valuables are at all times. This spacious option from Taygeer: It’s a carry-on-approved personal item bag that’s equipped with tons of compartments and inner pockets to keep your prized items organized.

Mistake: Trusting your bag’s zippers

The Fix: Using luggage straps

Travelon Luggage Strap

“Zippers fail more often than you’d think,” says Bacha, who has watched bags burst open on the runway many times over. For this reason, Bacha always adds a secondary luggage strap around her checked bag and advises travelers to do the same. “It takes two seconds and can save you from a suitcase disaster,” she says. Plus, some fun colored ones—like this patterned option from Travelon—“can help distinguish your suitcase from similar ones,” she adds.

Mistake: Checking softside luggage

The Fix: Opt for hardside suitcases

Away Bigger Carry-on

Softside bags may seem like an appealing choice, as they weigh less than hardside luggage. But according to baggage handlers, they have some serious drawbacks if you’re planning on checking them. 

“Soft bags can absorb anything that leaks from another suitcase,” says Bacha, who has seen some “nasty leaks” on the clock, including shattered wine bottles, spilled cologne, and melted frozen fish (yuck!). These spills can completely ruin multiple suitcases and their contents. 

Too, softside luggage can’t protect your belongings from being crushed by the weight of other bags that get stacked on top, says Bacha. So, do yourself a favor and use a hardshell suitcase for your checked luggage instead. “It keeps your clothes safe, dry, and in one piece,” she says, adding that her all-time favorites are from Away. 

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