Airport baggage handler says zip‑tie ‘hack’ can increase risk of lost luggage as viral post spreads

A viral Instagram video that recommended using a zip tie to bind suitcase zippers has been called "pointless" by a U.S. airport baggage handler, who said the practice can make it impossible to reseal bags that split open in transit and may increase the risk of lost items.

The original clip, posted by Instagram creator @keisha_motherhood, was one of several low‑cost travel hacks that included compression packing and other tips. The post drew hundreds of thousands of views and a string of replies from airline employees disputing the zip‑tie method. One commenter identified as a ramp agent wrote, "As a ramp agent, this is extremely comical! Don't zip tie or deadbolt your suitcase zippers. If it ever splits open, we have no way to save your belongings."

The commenter, who posts under @ali_see_yuh, expanded on the warning in a follow‑up video captioned "POINTLESS." The handler said that when checked bags are dropped or struck during loading and the zipper fails, handlers typically re‑pack items into the case and re‑zip it to prevent further loss. When a zipper is secured with a zip tie or otherwise bound shut, the handler said, "We'd stuff it in as best we could, but your suitcase would still be open," because staff lack the tools to reclose the bag.

In the follow‑up, the handler also noted a persistent risk of items being removed from luggage while it is handled by multiple people and passes through several stages of the airport system. "Anything from jewelry, electronics, perfumes/colognes, personal hygiene products, shoes, even my underwear goes on the plane with me... only my clothes and firearms go under the plane," the handler said.

The exchange highlights tensions between do‑it‑yourself travel tips that spread on social platforms and the operational realities of air travel logistics. Social media has amplified quick hacks for packing and securing belongings — from compression cubes to tracking devices such as AirTags — but airline workers and some security experts have repeatedly cautioned that shortcuts can have unintended consequences when luggage is subject to heavy handling, conveyor systems and cargo holds.

Airport baggage systems routinely subject luggage to shocks, impacts and shifts as items move between check‑in, sorting, security screening and aircraft loading. When a case is torn or a zipper fails, hands‑on intervention by ground staff can sometimes prevent loss by consolidating contents and closing the suitcase. Tools or restraints that prevent reopening complicate that response, according to the handler's account.

The handler's remarks did not include official airline or regulator guidance, and opinions among industry employees vary. The video's popularity underscores how algorithmic promotion on social platforms can quickly make a travel tip widespread before ground staff perspectives reach the same audience.

Travel industry groups and airport authorities have in prior years advised travelers to use approved locks and to follow airline size and packing guidelines, but they also stress that checked baggage is exposed to handling risks that differ from carry‑on items. Security screening protocols in some countries require that checked bags be accessible for inspection; devices or measures that obstruct access may complicate security procedures.

The Instagram video and the baggage handler's response circulated on Sept. 12, 2025. The handler's warnings were echoed by other commenters in the thread who said zip ties or duct‑taping zippers could similarly prevent staff from securing a torn bag and could increase the chance of items being lost during transit.

The exchange provides a case study in how quickly a simple, low‑cost suggestion can propagate across social platforms and prompt rapid pushback from workers with direct experience of the systems the hack is meant to address. Travelers seeking to reduce the risk of lost or damaged belongings continue to seek guidance from official airline and airport sources, which recommend durable luggage, clear labeling and, in many jurisdictions, using locks approved by security agencies when locking checked bags.