Because the process is largely automated, anything attached to a suitcase that could interfere with scanning equipment or conveyor systems may create problems. Loose ribbons, long fabric strips, and dangling decorations can sometimes become caught in machinery or obstruct the system's ability to process luggage smoothly.
Although such incidents are not guaranteed to happen, baggage handlers say they occur often enough to warrant caution.
Why Ribbons Can Cause Delays
The biggest concern is not the ribbon itself but how it interacts with automated equipment.
Airport scanners are designed to read baggage tags quickly and accurately. If a ribbon covers part of the tag, blocks a barcode, or creates an obstruction during scanning, the system may fail to identify the bag properly.
When that happens, luggage may need to be removed from the automated process and inspected manually.
Manual processing takes additional time. During busy travel periods, even small delays can increase the risk of a bag missing its intended flight connection.
Baggage handlers often explain that the smoother a suitcase moves through the automated system, the greater the chance it will arrive on time at its destination.
What seems like a harmless personalization can occasionally complicate that process.
Loose Decorations Can Create Mechanical Problems
Another concern involves the physical operation of conveyor belts and sorting equipment.
Modern airports use extensive conveyor networks that transport luggage across long distances inside terminals. These systems include rollers, scanners, diverters, and high-speed sorting mechanisms.
Loose ribbons, strings, straps, and decorative accessories can sometimes become trapped in moving equipment.
If an object gets caught, it may slow operations, damage luggage, or require workers to intervene manually. While baggage systems are designed to handle a wide variety of suitcase shapes and sizes, minimizing external attachments generally helps keep operations running smoothly.
This is one reason many airport workers recommend keeping luggage exteriors as clean and streamlined as possible.