Illustrative checked-luggage preparation scene with a suitcase and travel records.

Checked-Bag Security Checklist: Tag, Tracker, Photos and Receipts

Before checking a bag, remove cabin-only items, inspect the case, add current contact details inside and outside, test any permitted tracker, photograph the bag and contents, and save receipts separately. At bag drop, match the airline receipt to the correct case. On arrival, check identity and condition before leaving. Treat tags, trackers, locks and evidence as complementary layers—not guarantees or substitutes for official reporting.

Illustrative phone-camera setup facing a suitcase for a pre-flight condition record.

How to Photograph Luggage Before a Flight for Loss or Damage Claims

Photograph the closed suitcase from all sides, then record wheels, handles, zips, existing marks, its model label and the packed contents. Take a final tagged-bag picture at bag drop where permitted, and save the baggage receipt separately. Keep original files plus a backup outside the checked bag. If damage occurs, photograph it promptly, retain the bag and follow the airline's reporting and written-claim process; photos alone do not establish entitlement.

Illustrative close-up of a contact tag attached to a suitcase handle.

What Information Should You Put on a Luggage Tag?

Put your name, an internationally usable telephone number and a monitored email address on a luggage tag, preferably behind a privacy flap. Add a similar contact card inside the bag. Avoid unnecessary public details such as passport numbers, booking references and full holiday dates. Follow your carrier's specific identification requirements, keep the airline's current routing label unobstructed and test that your chosen contact methods work abroad.