What information is on an airline bag tag?

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 7 years ago

What information is on an airline bag tag?

By Michael Gebicki
Every bag tag has the passenger's name, flight number, date and destination.

Every bag tag has the passenger's name, flight number, date and destination.Credit: Michele Mossop

The adhesive label that gets wrapped around the handle of your suitcase at the check-in counter is known as an automated baggage tag (ABT).

Introduced in the early 1990s, ABTs are made from silicon and plastic, resistant to moisture, oil, heat, cold and sunlight and designed to be rip-proof.

The information printed on the ABT varies slightly from one airline to another but every tag has the passenger's name, flight number, date and destination.

It might have the bag weight, place of origin and the booking reference.

There's also a 10-digit number known as the IATA license plate code.

The first digit is the Baggage Tag Issuer Code, the next three digits identify the carrier airline, followed by a rolling number that resets when it gets to the last digit.

The bar code is what gets read by the scanner which then directs the bag to a particular destination and it appears twice, printed both horizontally and vertically so it can be read more easily.

The luggage tag has a little sibling known as the stub.

The stub duplicates the luggage tag barcode and it's placed on the bag to aid identification if the ABT should become detached.

Advertisement

Since stubs can confuse a scanner it's essential to remove the stub as well as the ABT before your next flight.

See also: Why you should never post a photo of your boarding pass online

See also: Does your bag come out quicker if you check-in late for a flight?

Listen: Flight of Fancy - the Traveller.com.au podcast with Ben Groundwater

Australia vs the world: Rules and cultural misunderstandings

To subscribe to the Traveller.com.au podcast Flight of Fancy on iTunes, click here.

Sign up for the Traveller newsletter

The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.

Most viewed on Traveller

Loading