Brits urged to pack carrier bag in their hand luggage for one vital reason

Daily Mirror

03-07-2025

Carrying a plastic carrier bag in your hand luggage could stop the spread of nasty germs in public toilets, and this frequent flyer explains how it's done
When you're packing your suitcase, there is a lot of thought as to what you need to bring away with you - but there's one thing one woman is urging everyone to remember.
While it may sound strange, the plane passenger has recommended bringing your own plastic bags to the airport with you to make your experience a lot smoother while waiting for your flight.
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Crafty TikToker Ollie, who goes by the name @lets.do.it.all took to her platform to share some of her best airport hacks, which included the nifty plastic bag trick. She captioned the post: "Master the airport like a pro! These simple tips will keep you comfy, organized, and your luggage protected wherever you fly."
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The mum simply cut a circle in the middle of the bag and placed it over the toilet seat, creating a protective sheet over the toilet to stop the spread of germs. No one wants to catch any nasty bugs, especially just before they go away, so this trick will help to keep any unwanted bacteria at bay, which is especially helpful to anyone taking young children into public toilets.
Another one of the tricks she shared was to tie a cable tie between the two zips on your suitcase to protect your luggage, this is in case someone tried to open it. The simple yet effective hack means you can leave your suitcase at check in with the peace of mind it is securely closed.
People were loving her clever hacks, as one fan commented: "Great travel tips thank you for sharing," while a second gushed: "Perfect for travelling," followed by a clapping emoji.
The 'fragile' sticker hack
There is also a clever way to make sure your bag is one of the first off the belt at baggage reclaim when collecting your bags after a flight - and it won't cost you an extra penny. Hadleigh Diamond, Commercial Director at SCS Chauffeurs, revealed that a lot of his clients use the same hack to get out of the airport as efficiently as possible.
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He explained: Clients regularly tell us that the difference between a good travel day and a stressful one often starts with baggage reclaim. If you're standing waiting for 30 minutes while the carousel clunks out someone else's bags, your trip can feel so much longer. But the fragile sticker trick is a game-changer — and it often works.
"We've heard this tip from both airport ground staff and frequent flyers. You don't need to lie or explain — just politely ask the check-in agent to add a 'fragile' sticker to your suitcase. It's not guaranteed, but more often than not, your bag is among the first out. We've seen it work time and time again."
The reason it works is that airport ground handlers will typically load 'fragile' items last into the aircraft's hold to avoid them getting crushed, and then these get removed first on the other side to avoid sitting under heavy loads. Of course it won't save you hours of time, but those 20 minutes it might save you could just mean a bit of extra pool time (or getting to your hotel early enough to be one of the first at the buffet!).