An airline has issued a surprising warning about a common mistake many travelers make when choosing their suitcase, one that could cost you both time and money.
Airports are already chaotic enough without the added stress of lost or mistakenly claimed luggage. And while a mix-up might seem like bad luck, your suitcase color could actually be part of the problem.
To help travelers avoid unnecessary baggage headaches, a flight provider has shared which suitcase colors are best to avoid, and it turns out, some of the most popular ones are the worst offenders.
Budget airline Ryanair recommends steering clear of black, gray, and navy suitcases. These darker shades are notoriously difficult to distinguish on baggage carousels, making them far more likely to be confused with someone else’s.
“Make it easier to spot your checked-in luggage on the carousel, especially if your luggage is black, navy or gray,” the airline advises. “Add a colorful luggage tag or ribbon to the handle so there’s no confusion on arrival.”
And they’re not the only ones waving the red flag. Stefan Schulte, head of Frankfurt Airport, says the overwhelming number of nearly identical black suitcases has made the job of locating lost baggage even more difficult. “Many people travel with black suitcases on wheels, which makes identifying them very time-intensive,” he explains.
Backing up this warning, The Economic Times reports that black bags are the most commonly lost color in airports.
Travel expert Jamie Fraxier from Wild Packs, a U.S.-based summer camp organization, also chimed in, saying, “Hard-sided black suitcases are the most common luggage type globally, making them both the hardest to identify and the most likely to go missing.”
If you want to reduce your chances of losing your luggage, the advice is clear: ditch the dark colors and opt for something brighter. Not only will your bag be easier to spot on the carousel, but airport staff will also have a much easier time locating it if it ends up lost.
So next time you’re suitcase shopping, remember: bold colors aren’t just fun, they might just save you a whole lot of hassle.
