Why you should always check your bag tag at check-in

It’s never fun when your luggage fails to arrive at your destination at the same time as you. Unfortunately, that happens to thousands of travelers each day.

More than 270,000 checked bags were mishandled (meaning lost or delayed) in the U.S. in August 2024, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Transportation. That equals an average of 6.4 checked bags per 1,000 travelers — and that’s just the statistics from U.S.-based airlines. When you think about how many international airlines there are and the potential for mishandled bags with them, the number skyrockets. Considering how many people will be flying during the holiday season, some luggage mishandling is sadly inevitable.

One major cause of lost or delayed baggage is due to incorrect tagging. When you hand your luggage off at the check-in counter, do you take a look at the bag tag before it disappears onto the conveyor belt? If not, here’s why you should start doing so.

How does a bag get tagged to the wrong destination?

The simplest answer is that the check-in agent may have accidentally input the wrong destination code. You may be going to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), but if the agent accidentally types in “DTW,” your bag will arrive at Detroit Wayne County International Airport instead. Or maybe you’re going to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the airport code is SJU, but the agent misroutes your luggage to SJO, an airport in Costa Rica.

Another possibility is that someone else’s bag tag with a different destination was affixed to your luggage. Maybe the check-in agent printed out an extra tag from the previous customer and, instead of throwing it out, inadvertently used that one on your luggage. They might’ve put the same wrong claim tag on your boarding pass.

If your luggage has a tag with your contact information, you’ll likely eventually be reunited with your bags (though it may not happen as quickly as you’d like). Be sure to have your contact details in multiple places — a tag on the outside and something inside of each suitcase is advised. If there’s no ID tag, your bags will likely sit around with all the other unclaimed luggage.

Related: My bag wasn’t tagged correctly — reader mistake story

How to avoid your bag being tagged incorrectly

Unless you have elite status or use the right credit cards, many airlines charge $70 per checked bag on a round-trip flight (or sometimes even more). So, it’s important to do all you can to ensure your bag gets tagged properly.

Confirm the destination on the tag

Ask the check-in agent if you can see the bag tag either before it’s placed on your luggage or before your luggage is sent down the conveyor belt. If you’re checking multiple bags, be sure to look at the tag for every bag.

Check the connection, too

You should check the destination and the connection if you are not flying nonstop.

This is especially important because bags are not always routed directly to the final destination. Sometimes, you may be responsible for picking up your bag from the first leg of your journey and rechecking it; the best way to confirm this is to see what’s on the bag tag.

For example, when you return to the U.S. from an international trip, you must collect your luggage and recheck it for your connecting flight. Be sure to check the bag tag at that point, also.

If you’re flying different airlines on a single itinerary (even with the same airline alliance), your bag may not always get checked through to your final destination, despite what a well-meaning airline worker may tell you. Always confirm it yourself by checking the bag tag.

Visually confirm tags have been added to each bag you check

Don’t just check where it’s tagged. You should also wait at the counter until you see that the correct bag tag has been added to all of your luggage.

This is even doubly important if you gate-check your bag. Sometimes, an airline gate agent can be busy checking several passengers’ bags on a full flight that has run out of overhead bin space. If a gate agent hands you the claim tag with your boarding pass but then says they’ll affix the tag to your bag later, just politely say you want to see your bag get tagged to make sure it doesn’t get lost.

Tag your own bags

Finally, whenever possible, use self-tagging at a kiosk that allows you to print your own bag tags and place them on the bags you wish to check. Though human error is less likely here than at the counter, you should still double-check your bag tags even when self-tagging at a kiosk and confirm the correct destination.

How to keep track of your luggage after you leave the counter

If you leave the counter without checking the bag tags, you still have a few options to ease your mind. You can also use these methods even if you’ve checked the tags and simply want to be sure your luggage makes it onto the airplane.

Increasingly, U.S. airlines have set up baggage tracking features on their websites and mobile apps. Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines all offer a baggage tracking tool on their websites and mobile apps. Many international airlines, including the member airlines within Star Alliance, also offer baggage tracking.

You can also use a Bluetooth tracking device, such as Apple AirTags, to monitor your luggage. This way, you can see that your luggage has been loaded onto your airplane and arrived at your destination.

Plus, Apple recently announced that users will soon be able to share a secure link with the location of an AirTag or “Find My” network accessory with more than 15 airlines; participating carriers include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, United, Virgin Atlantic and Vueling.

If things go haywire and your bags don’t arrive when you do — especially during the busy summer or holiday travel seasons — this Apple feature will help airlines locate them. However, it’s still important to be aware of the steps you should take if you end up with lost or delayed luggage and to understand how credit cards can come to the rescue.

Bottom line

Checking a bag comes with some mishandling risks along the way. Of course, if you want to eliminate that risk altogether, you can travel with carry-on bags only. If that’s not possible or you just prefer to check a bag, there are steps you can take to avoid your luggage getting checked to the wrong destination. Start by simply examining the bag tags and claim tags before you leave the check-in counter.

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