Does declaring your baggage as fragile do anything good?

Does declaring your baggage as fragile do anything good? - Blue Luggage with Folded Clothes

When flying, you’re asked if your checked bags have anything fragile. If you answer yes then they put a fragile sticker or tag on the bag, but they also make you sign a liability waiver.

It seems to me that the minimal benefit of the fragile tag (see What do "Fragile" stickers on checked baggage do?) does not outweigh the liability waiver if something gets broken.

Is there really a good reason to answer in the affirmative?



Best Answer

Let's put it this way: it doesn't hurt. The terms & conditions of any airline will already disclaim as much responsibility as possible for any luggage damaged in transit, the waiver is just an extra bit of legal ass-covering with the helpful side effect of (hopefully) making it clear to the passenger that the "fragile" tag is best effort, not a guarantee.

Also, while your mileage obviously may vary, many airports genuinely do handle fragile items differently: for example, in Sydney they're carted over to a separate corral by hand instead of being thrown on to the conveyor belt to play demolition derby with everybody else's suitcases. I quite regularly bring along cardboard boxes containing (well-padded) bottles, which get slapped with Fragile tags, and to date they've always come through with no visible damage.




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Does fragile sticker help?

The answer to this question is no. Adding a fragile label or writing fragile on your package in most cases does not cause your package to be handled with special care. The reasons are the fragile message is over used and the message is just not noticed by handlers.

Why there is a need to ask fragile items in the luggage?

It spends some time outside, exposed to the elements. No matter how many fragile tags you put on, there will come a point where your suitcase must make its way up the conveyor belt into the aircraft. If it is raining, snowing, cold, or hot, it will be exposed to the elements at this point.

How do you fly with a fragile suitcase?

When it comes to packing fragile items:
  • Always put your valuable, most fragile items in your carry-on!
  • Keep them wrapped in soft materials and stuffed with things like socks, underwear, or bubble wrap.
  • All items should be at least two inches apart from each other and five inches from the sides of your luggage.


  • What is fragile baggage tag?

    \u201cA fragile tag is meant to be put on luggage which are to be handled carefully: items made of glass, pottery, ceramic or any other easily breakable item. \u201cThe guys transporting your luggage will take extra care so as to not break your item. Most often the fragile tagged luggage come on to the belt first.\u201d Getty.



    Are Fragile Stickers Bogus?




    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: Kindel Media, Ketut Subiyanto, Tima Miroshnichenko, Elle Hughes