Baggage Tag
A label attached to checked luggage that carries the passenger's booking reference and the bag's routing through the airline network.
A baggage tag is the barcode-printed label attached to checked luggage at the time of drop-off, which identifies the bag, links it to the passenger's booking, and encodes the intended routing through the airline network. Ground staff scan these tags at every point in the bag's journey — loading, transfer, and arrival — to confirm correct routing and identify mishandled luggage quickly.
Why it matters
Baggage tags are the primary mechanism for tracking luggage through complex multi-leg itineraries. When a bag is misrouted, the tag record shows exactly where it last appeared in the system and where it was supposed to go, enabling recovery. For business travellers with checked bags on connecting itineraries — particularly those involving interline agreements between different carriers — understanding how baggage tags work helps in knowing what to do when luggage does not arrive.
How it works in practice
Tags are printed at check-in, either by an agent or through a self-service kiosk, and attached securely to the bag handle. Each tag carries a unique 10-digit IATA bag number that is scanned at every handling point in the journey. Some airlines now offer electronic bag tags that update their digital display with each new routing, reducing paper waste and enabling real-time tracking through the airline's app.
The takeaway
Keep the baggage claim receipt issued at check-in — it contains the bag number needed to file a mishandled baggage report. Travellers on tight connections should also confirm at check-in that bags are tagged through to the final destination, particularly on itineraries involving multiple carriers under an interline agreement.