For many, packing a suitcase is one of the most stressful aspects of travel: what clothes to bring? What must not be forgotten? Few people think of putting a simple sheet of paper in their luggage, but it can prove extremely useful in saving your belongings in unforeseen circumstances.
According to data from the statistical platform Statista, cited by the Fokus portal, around 6.9 pieces of luggage per 1,000 passengers were lost or misdelivered in 2023. This means that over 20 million suitcases go missing during air travel every year. Some are recovered within days, while others are lost forever.
To avoid such situations, several precautionary measures can be taken. A classic solution is luggage tags with contact information—a popular choice for travelers—but they can easily tear off or be stolen in the chaos of baggage handling. One foreign traveler sparked online discussions after sharing a shocking incident at an airport, which made her question the safety of personal data while traveling. However, marking your luggage with external tags is not strictly necessary. A simple A4 or A5 sheet of paper placed inside the suitcase can be enough.
How does the paper-in-luggage method work?
The passenger rights portal Planeclaim recommends placing a large sheet of paper with important contact details on it inside your suitcase. It should be placed on top of your belongings so it is easily visible when the luggage is opened. The trick is that if the luggage does get lost, you can inform the airline about the sheet inside when filing a lost luggage claim.
According to Planeclaim, this lifehack significantly increases the chances of returning lost luggage to its owner. If the suitcase cannot be immediately identified, it is often opened as part of a “secondary search” procedure. During this process, the contents of the luggage are matched with the details in the lost luggage claim. If identification fails, the luggage may be auctioned or even destroyed. A sheet with your contact information can help prevent this unpleasant scenario.
Of course, a sheet of paper in your suitcase is not the only measure you should take. Using specialized GPS trackers can provide additional security.