What does the 10 digit code on luggage tags represent?
I have observed that baggage tags for commercial carriers have a 10 digit code on the bottom which appears to be a part of a universal baggage handling argot, see this picture...
The number appears to be segmented. I suspect the first digits represent the carrier, unknown part in the middle, and the last digit, in this case "8", appears to be a type of enumeration about the bag's priority. But this is guess.
When I fly commercial and check baggage, I try to snap a photo of the tag before the agent places it on the belt. That's for the unlikely case that the bag is lost AND my copy of the luggage tag is also lost (which is more likely). I upload the photo to Dropbox.
Question: Can anyone clarify how this 10 digit code is segmented and what information it contains? Is the knowledge somehow useful to a traveller? I am particularly interested in the final digit.
Best Answer
The first number "0" is usually the identifier for the type of checked bag (normal checked bag, gate checked, mobility device, rush bag,etc). So the first number could change, but not the next 3.
Then you have 176 which is the airline identifier... in this case 176 is Emirate Sky Cargo
Then the last 6 digits are allocated to the passenger, and used to trace bags if they get lost, along with the 2 letter airline code that precedes it.
Pictures about "What does the 10 digit code on luggage tags represent?"
What do bag tag numbers mean?
It might have the bag weight, place of origin and the booking reference. There's also a 10-digit number known as the IATA license plate code. The first digit is the Baggage Tag Issuer Code, the next three digits identify the carrier airline, followed by a rolling number that resets when it gets to the last digit.What information does the baggage tag have on it?
A secure luggage tag with legible information can help bring lost bags back home. All luggage tags should list the owner's name, email address, and a phone number. Whether or not to include an address, however, is contentious, and you might want to refrain from putting your home address on your luggage.What does hot mean on luggage tag?
Hot and cold are bags that are connecting onto another flight, depending on the amount of time between flights. Hot bags are usually loaded separately and are the last ones loaded onto the flight so that they are the first ones off at the destination and they can make the connecting flights.What are the different types of luggage tags?
These are the different types of luggage tags you can find:- Handle Wraps.
- Magnetic.
- Slips.
- Shaped.
- Straps.
- Locks.
WHAT YOU SHOULD NEVER PUT ON YOUR LUGGAGE TAG!
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Images: Miguel Á. Padriñán, Mati Mango, Sabrina Gelbart, Pixabay