The Ultimate Guide for Holiday Travel: Avoiding Baggage Mishaps

As the holiday season fast approaches and travel plans get underway, ensuring your plans start without a hitch often comes down to one simple factor: your luggage. What you pack and how you manage your baggage can lead to smooth sailing or unexpected disruptions.

It’s a common sight at airports: brightly coloured ribbons, large tags, or plush toys attached to suitcases to help travellers quickly spot their luggage. While these additions are made with good intentions, they can inadvertently cause problems during the baggage handling process.

Loose items can become tangled in conveyor belts or block sorting sensors, leading to jams or delays. According to a study conducted by Daifuku of over 82,400 bags assessed before being inducted into the baggage handling system (BHS), 4.83% of bags were deemed ‘poor hygiene’, which can include loose straps, extended handles or attached objects, like ribbons, to name a few. Daifuku’s Bag-UX AI detection learns from thousands of bags and improves over time. Trials have shown that Bag-UX reduces mishandled luggage significantly, offering the opportunity to address these before they cause further problems.

In a 2024 study, in 2023, passenger traffic volumes peaked. There were 5.2 billion passengers during the year, so there was a steep 10% rise in the total number of mishandled bags, approximately 6.9 bags per thousand passengers.

The Role of Daifuku’s Bag-UX System

Airports and airlines are constantly upgrading their baggage handling systems to prevent mishandled luggage. Daifuku’s Bag-UX is a key player in this effort. It uses advanced AI-powered machine vision to detect issues with baggage. The system is designed to identify and flag luggage that may cause problems, such as:

• Soft-sided bags that require tubs
• Bags with extended handles or loose wheels
• Multiple bags too close together on the belt

Bag-UX detects these issues and stops the belt when necessary, alerting an operator via a touchscreen interface to correct the problem. By minimising poor baggage hygiene, the Bag-UX solution reduces the chances of jams in the system, keeping the baggage flow smooth and reducing the risk of mishandled luggage.

Ensure your luggage doesn’t hold up your holiday

For even the frequent flyer, understanding what not to check in, how to pack smartly, and ensuring your luggage is conveyable will start your holiday on the right foot. Daifuku’s Operations and Maintenance teams work in the hub of airports – the baggage handling system, witnessing a wide assortment of items being inducted into the system…and not. Below are some of their top tips.

1. Loose Straps and Handles: If you have extendable handles, ensure they are retracted before checking in your luggage. Baggage handling systems can snag on these parts, leading to delays.
2. Soft-Sided Bags and Boxes: If not correctly packed or placed in tubs, soft-sided luggage can cause conveyor jams. This is especially true if the bag is overfilled and has an irregular shape.
3. Ribbons and Tags: Many travellers attach ribbons, scarves, or other identifiers to their luggage to make it easier to spot. While this is an excellent idea in theory, these items can get caught in the conveyor system, potentially causing a jam or damaging your luggage. Instead, choose brightly coloured luggage or use a luggage cover to distinguish your bag.
4. Non-Standard Attachments: Be mindful of anything extra you attach to your bag. External pouches, keychains, or non-standard luggage tags are prone to getting stuck in airports’ automated systems for sorting baggage.

Top Tips for Pack-Friendly Baggage

1. Use Standard Bags: Stick to regular-shaped luggage with firm sides. Soft-sided bags may require additional handling and can lead to conveyability issues.
2. Keep Handles Retracted: Extended handles or loose wheels can confuse conveyor sensors and stop the baggage flow. Ensure handles and straps are tucked away properly.
3. Avoid Overstuffing: Bags that bulge or lose their shape may not sit properly on conveyor belts, increasing the likelihood of jams or delays.
4. Label Your Bags Discreetly: While having your bags easily identifiable is important, use subtle luggage tags that don’t interfere with automated systems. A well-placed, low-profile tag can help distinguish your bag without causing issues.
5. Pack Smartly: Distribute weight evenly in your bag to maintain its shape and avoid overfilling. Check that handles and straps are secured, and the bag isn’t lumpy or misshaped.
6. Check with Your Airline: Before packing, review your airline’s baggage guidelines. Every carrier has different size and weight limits, and some may also impose restrictions on checked items.

Holiday travel should be all about relaxation, not worrying about your luggage. By following these simple guidelines and staying mindful of your baggage’s conveyability, you can prevent many common mishaps.

Daifuku’s Bag-UX system is making strides in revolutionising how airports handle baggage, ensuring that travellers and airlines experience fewer disruptions. As you prepare for your next holiday, remember that a little attention to detail in your packing process can make all the difference. Keep it simple, avoid over-the-top luggage additions, and enjoy a stress-free trip!

For more information on Daifuku’s Bag-UX AI technology, one of our Business Solutions Team members today.

www.daifuku.com