Baggage handlers are named “worst” type of suitcases that can be used while traveling abroad, making them more likely to reach their destination unharmed. With so many options available, choosing a new suitcase for your holiday is a bit of a challenge.
Luckily, online spaces like Tiktok and Reddit have become trusted sources of travel hacking. Airport insiders share top tips for keeping your luggage safe during your flight. Posting on Reddit, baggage handler user Adam offered to answer questions people have for him. One traveler asked: “Are there any tips to avoid losing or destroying your luggage?
Adam explained using name tags to prevent the loss of luggage:
“One good way I've seen is to put your own tag in your bag with your name and address so you can read this and make sure it's yours. Other methods include using a unique strap that wraps the bag.”
For those who want to avoid damage to the suitcase, he recommended choosing a bag “with four good wheels with a soft lining on the inside and a stiff outer shell.”
Another asked: “Why do you hate my bags?” Adam replied: “Do your bags have dangerous wheels? Are there none of them at all without wheels? Are they not suitable handheld? They are bags that I really, really dislike.”
The third question read, “Hard case bag or cloth bag? Which is better?” Airline workers said, “If you don't mind that your things are compressed, soft cases are fine. These tend to be more space-efficient in holds.”
He continued to provide advice on protecting valuables during flights, saying, “If you have something a little fragile, I want a difficult case to protect something like that.”
Answering questions about the best and worst bags choices, Adam said, “Some of the worst bags to buy are wheelless.
“In my airline, none of our holds are loaded into the bin, so we have to manually stack the bags in each hold, which can be quite long. If there are at least two high quality wheels in the bag, it can roll us down quickly.
“If not, you will need to throw your bags to maintain your scheduled time.
My absolute favorite bag is the one that has four wheels, one of which has been seized, so I try to roll it down, but it falls after moving the 6 inch. ”
