How upsetting and frustrating!! There's nothing worse than waiting around for suitcases in the first place never mind to find out one of yours has gone missing. Every one is always tired and hot and flustered waiting for their cases it's awful, especially at that time of night! I'm glad mine stands out from the crowd

3MIN3M4

I had a similar experience at Alicante last year. My case was marked up and clearly identifiable with tape and several labels and tags, but some silly idiot STILL managed to take my case in mistake for theirs....even though my full name is sewn (stitched) on one side of the case in huge white thread.

To make matters worse, when I found out which hotel this idiot was staying in, the Receptionist said I could not have my case back until I had returned HIS suitcase to him which I was susposed to have picked up in error.

God I was livid. I had not taken his case....I'm NOT that stupid. But it did ruin the start of my holiday, made even worse by having idiotic teenage Reps on duty at the Airport whod did not have a clue how to help me.

We've always tied something onto the handle of our cases to make them recognisable, I must admit when all those cases are coming by you on the carousel they do all look the same especially if you've been up half the night.

We bought a couple of case straps this year and they were very easy to spot, it's something I always dread that our cases will go missing, I hope you have better luck next time maria

Sorry to hear that Maria, it is a problem nowadays when most cases look identical and are mass-produced.
Finding something to "mark" your case that is unique from ribbons, tape and scraps of material is also becoming harder.

Have you ever fallen in love with a suitcase?.....we bought two identical cases many years ago from BHS (British Home Stores) and one was borrowed by a friend that got battered in transit to the USA and was condemned to the dumpit site. (the suitcase, not the friend)
The other old favourite is dog eared and has seen better days and no one in their right mind would pick that up off the carousel you really wouldn't want to be seen anywhere with it.

We've bought many styles of cases over the years, soft bodied, hard bodied, ones with zips, ones without zips"¦"¦but during the recent restrictions on hand luggage and things having to be packed into the case"¦we got the old favourite out from the loft, gave it a quick wipe down and off we went.
The hard bodied one that we now have weighs 5 kg empty"¦so bringing out the old one was very advantageous it weighs next to nothing"¦no fancy integral wheels/handles, although it does have wheels and an handle to pull on, and it is sturdy.
Why don't they make suitcases like that anymore.?

I don't think the way the general public conduct themselves around the carousel helps matters either it's like the smash and grab at Harrods opening day sale.

Better luck next time.

Sanji x

On our return from Majorca waiting for our cases the couple next to us thought that a case was theres they undid the lock with a key had a look inside and decided it didn't belong to them!!!! A few minutes later a identical case came, another look inside and it belonged to them. Both cases identical and no markings or labels on.

We had a similar experience at Newcastle airport three years ago. Hubbys case got picked up off someone who, how can I say it, must have been totally blind Okay, the cases were the same size, colour, brand, but we had three huge luminous yellow ribbons attached to each side and the name MICK stuck on one side. We were stuck in the airport nearly an hour while we reported it missing at the desk. The taxi waited for us and didn't charge any extra. I thought it was hilarious until he told me the duty free's were in his case along with the cheque book. Happy ending though, it turned up intact an hour after getting home via courier.
Would have hated it though if it had gone missing at the start of holiday.

If there is a shrink wrap machine in the checkin area put it on yur case not many will pick it up.

I have never seen a shrink wrap machine !!!

I use silve gaffer/fire tape either in a cross or as an intial,

you can see it from quite far away

qatarman

If you travel from Tenerife airport all you see is shrink wrapped cases. Everyone seems to get it done, and that is one reason we don't - so we can recognise our case when it comes round the carousel

Rgds

There was also one at Palma airport in september.