A post showcasing an amusing coincidence involving a monogrammed suitcase has gone viral on Reddit, so Newsweek spoke to an expert about luggage and whether or not it's a good idea to monogram them.
The post, shared by user u/dalecookie on the r/mildlyinteresting subforum features an image of a black suitcase with the label "BAG" on it. The post has amassed 75,000 upvotes since it was shared on February 24.
A caption shared with the images explains: "My dad got his suitcase monogrammed but his initials are 'BAG' so it looks like he labeled his bag."
The viral post comes as there were 148,420 mishandled bags reported across 10 major airlines in the United States in November last year, according to the latest Air Travel Consumer Report released in January by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
The number of mishandled bags represents any checked bags that are "lost, damaged, delayed, and pilfered, as reported by or on behalf of the passenger," the DOT notes.
The recent Reddit post raises questions about the practicality of luggage personalization.
Retail strategist Jeanel Alvarado, the founder and CEO of RETAILBOSS, told Newsweek that monogramming a suitcase can make it easier to identify in baggage claims.
"Travelers looking to add their initials to a suitcase may help them recognize it faster at baggage claim and make it easily identifiable if it's mixed up or stolen. If your initials are visible, it's unlikely someone will mistakenly take it," Alvarado said.
However, she also pointed out potential downsides to personalizing luggage in this way. "It can also have adverse effects, so shoppers should weigh the pros with the cons. For instance, by monogramming it with your initials, your bag may even draw more attention than you would like and can make your personal information known to strangers," she said.
Regarding the viral Reddit post, Alvarado added: "This is actually perfect because it's distinguishable but completely ambiguous on the name being initials."
She also cautioned against monogramming a child's name or initials, as it could pose safety risks by making it easier for strangers to use the information to gain a child's trust.
"For those who want to monogram their bag, opting for a luggage tag instead or another way to identify the bag, like a sticker or a tied ribbon, may be a better choice," she suggested.
Another practical consideration is resale value. Alvarado noted: "Monogrammed bags are sometimes impossible to sell once personalized, as they are less appealing to second-hand shoppers, so expect drastically lower resale prices."
'The Most Dad Thing Ever'
Despite these considerations, it's clear that the father's suitcase monogram sparked widespread amusement among Reddit users, with many commenting on the unintentional humor of the situation.
"That's the most dad thing ever. He's probably so proud of it too. Like, 'yep, that's my bag,'" wrote u/Fuzzyhaven.
Another commenter, u/MilStd, added, "That is next level dad jokes there," while u/Impressive-Bee6484 said, "Okay that's really funny!"
U/Square-Combination33 said, "It's got that fresh label-maker energy to it," while u/eedabaggadix declared "I love it."
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via the Reddit messaging system.
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