Name & address on luggage tags?

[RTALLEN]

Do you put your name and address on your luggage tags? I've seen two schools of thought on this. Some say not only put your name and address on a tag on the outside of your luggage, but on a 3"x5" card INSIDE your luggage as well, in case it gets lost or misdirected from its' (and your)destination. Others say DON'T put your address on your luggage tags, just your name and a phone number. Then, if some unscrupulous person happens to look at your luggage tags, even though it's obvious you're not at home, the would-be thief won't know where you live. Which do you do?

[Mike M]

I have put my name address and phone number on my luggage tags for over 30 years.

If you don't then it's much harder for the airlines to contact you. It is also much harder for someone to contact you if they inadvertently grab your bag off the luggage carousel. It happens a lot.

You can be cautious and you can be over cautious. It's a risk reward situation. Are the benefits of putting your name on your luggage greater than the risk of someone knowing your name and address? I believe the benefits GREATLY outweigh the risks. Also: most airlines require that all luggage have luggage tags with your name, address and phone number on them.

One other thing. Put your cell number on the luggage tags. If you are traveling the message left on your home answering machine isn't going to help you recover your bags. Someone grabbed my bag in Miami and tried to call me but I had my home number on that luggage tag. I didn't get my luggage for four days. If I would have had my cell number on the tag I would have had it within five minutes.

My advice: Fill out the luggage tags.

Take care,
Mike

[Trip]

Everything Mike just said.

[Manuel]

Originally Posted by Trip

Everything Mike just said.

I concur!

TM

[colorcrazie]

Oh my goodness, I can't believe I am about to disagree with Mike and Trip! Having worked for an airline for years, I NEVER put my address on my luggage tags. Cell phone #, yes, definitely. But, there are some workers in the travel industry who sell addresses to thieves. They only use those with addy's in the same town as the airport. But, they are very well organized. And, it happens only after your luggage is out of sight to you.
JMHO
Marty

[kandajones]

We simply put our names, my cell/mobile number, and my works address (although a relative's home address wouldbe just as safe)

Then if the luggage goes missing and the finder cannot 'phone me for any reason, the luggage will end up at my offices.

They say a little paranoia never hurt anyone - now we just have to work out who 'they' are

Alan & Katrina

[Lakers Fan]

I have my name and address but never a phone number and have been doing this for 47 years .

[LisaK]

some airlines require you to put an address on your luggage tags. We do that along with our cell number, but we take security measures one step further, inform our neighbors and family that we will be away and since DH is retired police we inform our local police and they will make a ride by the house

[Mike M]

I do agree that a business address is the best. I used to use luggage tags that I just inserted my business card in. These cards are no longer valid so I put my CruiseMates card in them. However, they still have my address on them and will continue to do so. The difference is that now all my luggage tags have my cell number on them.

As I stated in my earlier post. I probably would not have received my luggage had I not had my name, address and phone number on my luggage. It was taken at the port of Miami and was not discovered it was the wrong luggage until the person was going home.

Yes: There are airline employees that may sell names, addresses and phone numbers but:

There are hackers who daily hack the non-secured information (name, address and phone number) from websites so don't ever buy anything online.

Or employees that sell customer lists and are rarely caught unless they access "secured information". i.e. SS numbers or credit card information.

There are people who clone your credit card so never use it to purchase anything in a restaurant or even a retail store.

There are card cloners that are placed on ATM machines so don't ever use an ATM machine.

Millions of people have an unlocked mailbox and organized groups of thieves grab mail from them every day. They can just grab junk mail to get your name and address. You will never know. They can also grab your monthly payment and then erase most information on your check and then write it for whatever they want.

There are people who drive around neighborhoods and use laptop computers to hack into home wireless networks that have no security or minimal WEP security. They access the private information of all computers in the home in a matter of minutes.

Does all this mean I will stop buying anything online, not use a wireless device, use my credit card, or drive eight miles to a post office box? No. The risk is not worth the hassle and the rewards far outweigh the "security". However, I never put a "check" in my personal mailbox and I have a very high level of wireless security but if someone REALLY wants to hack me then they will. It's the same as if someone REALLY wants to get in my house they will.

It is still a risk/reward question.

Take care,
Mike

[Kamloops Cruiser]

I usually attach a business card on the outside as well as inside.
The business card has my business number , cell number and address.
Inside I also put a card with my DW's name and phone number.