Woman baffled after finding airline staff put zip tie on her suitcase

Most of us are relieved to see our suitcase chugging along the conveyor belt after a long flight, safe in the knowledge that our dirty undies haven't been accidentally shipped off to Timbuktu.

But for one woman, being reunited with her luggage opened a whole can of worms.

After touching down in Bali, an Australian traveller was left puzzled when her suitcase arrived with an orange cable tie attached, and shared a photo of the bag on Bali Bogans Facebook group, asking if anyone knew what was going on, and members were quick to share some words of warning. 

Facebook

The post read: “Does anyone know what this cable tie on our bags means? Arrived last night and one bag took a bit longer and came out with this tag. I’m guessing it was inspected?"

Users suggested that her luggage had likely been marked for a security check and she could even face a fine, with one noting: "Oh no gives me nightmares these cable ties! I got pulled up back in 2019.”

Another added: "Mine was green and they pulled me up and searched and charged me $300 AUD (£177)," while a third wrote that her bag, which had been carrying lactose-free long life milk, was also tagged and searched.

Someone else revealed that they’d once had two bags cable-tied, saying: "We had our bags inspected by customs as we brought a lot of food over for friends who live in Bali. Once checked we were given the all good to go."

And a fifth said: “That happened to me many years ago. It was a brand new suitcase and they put a big white cross on the side of it. I was less than impressed.”

“The baggage ties just mean you have something in your luggage they think you shouldn't have. Mainly extra alcohol,” pointed out a sixth group member.

GRANT ROONEY PREMIUM / Alamy Stock Photo

The tourist later shared an update, and revealed that her bag didn’t end up getting checked at the airport. 

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Airline Tactical Solutions employee, Martin Engeler, explained that cable ties are used to indicate that someone’s bag might contain something it shouldn’t. 

He said: "What they used to do was mark it with a yellow crayon and put a cross on it.

"Baggage is screened before they come out of the airport. It tells customs to check that bag. It's for people who try to bring in stuff like electronics."