Should the luggage check-in sticker be removed? Taoyuan Airport exposes the situation!

Staff at the baggage transfer area of Taoyuan Airport revealed that there have been multiple incidents of luggage "misdirected to the wrong destination" recently. Upon investigation, it was found that most of these incidents were related to old check-in stickers remaining on the luggage. "Nowadays, airport baggage sorting relies on scanning and recognition. If there are multiple check-in stickers with barcodes on the luggage at the same time, the sorting equipment may misread the old label information and direct the luggage to the wrong transfer channel." The staff gave an example, saying that there was a passenger who was flying from Taoyuan Airport to Kaohsiung, but because there were old check-in stickers from a previous flight to Taipei remaining on the luggage, the luggage was mistakenly sent to Taipei Airport, delaying the subsequent itinerary.

In addition to the risk of misdelivery, the potential information leakage hazard posed by old consignment stickers is more easily overlooked. Security personnel at Taoyuan Airport remind that each airport consignment sticker contains flight information, baggage number, and some even include key information such as passenger name and contact information. If not removed in time, this information may be exploited by criminals. For example, a tour guide once revealed that thieves would use old labels on luggage to determine a passenger's travel patterns and departure time, accurately carrying out burglary; and fraudsters would use the flight information on the labels to forge proof of lost luggage and defraud airline compensation.

Some travelers may think it is more convenient to directly take the old stickers to their next destination after getting off the plane, but the staff at Taoyuan Airport emphasize that this approach actually increases risks. The correct way to handle it is in two steps: First, after arriving at the destination and collecting your luggage, immediately remove the consignment stickers for this trip to avoid interference with identification during subsequent transfers or changes; second, before departure, thoroughly clean all old stickers on your luggage, retaining only necessary personalized identifications - such as cartoon stickers without information, colored ribbons, etc. This not only facilitates the identification of luggage but also does not disclose privacy.

It is worth noting that similar risks exist not only at Taoyuan Airport but also at most airports worldwide. Industry insiders add that in addition to old check-in stickers, express delivery labels and hotel labels carrying detailed address and itinerary information should also be promptly disposed of. If you are concerned about losing your luggage, you can place a card with your name and phone number on the inside of your luggage, and use personalized decorations without personal information on the outside to assist in identification. This is both safe and can help you quickly find your luggage.