You just dropped a few hundred dollars on a sleek, polycarbonate shell from Away. It’s beautiful. You’re ready for your flight to Tokyo or maybe just a weekend in Chicago. Then you pick up that little rectangular piece of leather—the included tag—and honestly, you realize it’s a bit of a puzzle. It looks simple. It should be simple. But if you’ve ever found yourself standing in the middle of your living room fumbling with a leather strap and a tiny buckle while your Uber is five minutes away, you know the struggle. Knowing how to put on Away luggage tag correctly is the difference between your contact info staying on your bag or ending up lost on a conveyor belt at JFK.
Away has built a cult following for a reason. Their bags are durable. The wheels glide like they're on ice. But the accessories, like the luggage tag, are designed with a specific minimalist aesthetic that sometimes sacrifices "obviousness" for style. The tag isn't just a piece of flair; it’s a security feature. If your bag gets gate-checked—and let’s face it, on smaller planes, it will—that tag is the only thing linking the suitcase to your identity.
The Anatomy of the Away Leather Tag
Before you start pulling on the leather, take a second to look at what you’re actually holding. Most Away suitcases come with a color-matched leather tag. It consists of three main parts: the main sleeve, the privacy flap, and the attachment strap. The strap is usually the part that trips people up because it's thicker than your average cheap plastic loop.
Away uses high-quality leather. This is great for durability but tough for flexibility. When you first get it, the leather is stiff. You might feel like you're going to break it if you bend it too far. You won't. In fact, giving it a little bit of a "massage" or a gentle bend before you try to thread it through the handle of your The Bigger Carry-On makes the whole process significantly easier.
Prepping Your Information
Don’t wait until the tag is on the bag to fill it out. This is a classic rookie mistake. The way the sleeve is designed, it’s a tight fit. Trying to slide a paper card into a leather slot while it’s dangling from a heavy suitcase is an exercise in frustration.
Take the card out first. Use a permanent marker or a fine-tip Sharpie. Ballpoint pens tend to smear on the semi-glossy paper Away provides. If you’re worried about privacy, you don't necessarily need to put your home address. Many frequent travelers, including experts from Conde Nast Traveler, suggest using your email address and phone number instead. This protects your home while ensuring the airline can actually reach you if the bag goes missing.
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How to Put on Away Luggage Tag Without Losing Your Mind
First, find the side handle or the top handle of your suitcase. Most people prefer the top handle because it’s easier to see, but the side handle is actually safer. Why? Because when baggage handlers grab your bag, they almost always use the top handle. Putting the tag on the side handle reduces the chances of it being ripped off during a particularly aggressive toss onto a luggage cart.
Unbuckle the strap completely. Feed the pointed end of the strap through the loop on the top of the leather tag body. Now, wrap that strap around the handle of your suitcase. Here’s the trick: make sure the "open" side of the tag (where the privacy flap is) faces inward toward the bag. This keeps the flap from flying open while the bag is in motion.
Thread the end of the strap through the buckle. It’s just like a tiny belt. Pull it tight enough that it doesn't slide around too much, but leave a little bit of wiggle room. If it's too tight, the leather can stress and eventually crack over years of use. If it's too loose, it can get caught in the machinery of the airport's automated sorting system.
Dealing with the "Stiff Leather" Problem
If you're finding it impossible to get the strap through the buckle, it’s probably just cold. Leather shrinks and stiffens in cold temperatures. If your bag was just delivered to your doorstep in January, let it sit inside for an hour. Or, just hold the strap in your hands for a minute. Your body heat will soften the fibers. This makes the how to put on Away luggage tag process much smoother.
Why This Specific Tag Design Matters
You might wonder why Away didn't just go with a simple clear plastic window. The privacy flap is a deliberate choice. In the world of travel security, "visual privacy" is a growing concern. You don't want every person standing behind you in the Starbucks line at the terminal to know your full name and where you live.
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The Away tag hides your details behind a leather fold. It requires someone to physically lift the flap to see the information. It’s a small barrier, but it’s an effective one. It’s also why these tags are so popular with the "digital nomad" crowd who spend a lot of time in public spaces.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Putting the tag on the telescoping handle. Never do this. Seriously. When you collapse the handle to put the bag in the overhead bin, the tag will get jammed in the mechanism. Best case? You break the tag. Worst case? You jam the handle and can't get it back up when you land.
- Ignoring the buckle direction. Ensure the buckle is facing "out." If the metal buckle is rubbing directly against the polycarbonate shell of your bag for a 10-hour flight, it’s going to leave a mark.
- Using the wrong ink. As mentioned before, standard ink smears. If your contact info is a blue smudge, the tag is useless.
Alternatives if You Hate the Leather Tag
Let's be real—some people just don't like the leather loop. Maybe you find it too fiddly, or maybe you're vegan and want a different material. While the standard how to put on Away luggage tag instructions apply to the leather version, Away also sells "The Luggage Tag" in high-strength silicone for some of their limited editions.
Silicone tags use a "loop-through" method rather than a buckle. You simply feed the tag through itself. It’s faster, but arguably less "premium" looking. If you’re an Away purist, though, you’ll probably stick with the leather.
Third-Party Tag Options
If you’ve lost your original Away tag—they do come off occasionally if not buckled correctly—you don't have to buy a replacement directly from them. Brands like Tumi or even high-end leather workers on Etsy make tags that fit the Away aesthetic perfectly. However, the original Away tag is specifically sized to not interfere with the bag’s dimensions, which is a nice touch for those trying to maximize every inch of their carry-on.
Maintenance and Longevity
Leather needs love. Your suitcase is going to get beat up. It’s going to get rained on in London and baked in the sun in Dubai. Every few months, take the tag off and wipe it down with a damp cloth. If you’re feeling fancy, a tiny bit of leather conditioner will keep it from becoming brittle.
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A brittle tag is a tag that snaps. And a snapped tag is a lost suitcase. It takes about thirty seconds of maintenance once a year to make sure that strap stays strong.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
Before you head to the airport, follow these steps to ensure your luggage is actually protected. First, verify the buckle is secure and the "tongue" of the buckle is seated firmly in the hole. Give it a sharp tug. It shouldn't budge. Next, check the privacy flap. It should lay flat. If it’s curling up, you can gently bend it back the other way to train the leather.
Finally, consider taking a photo of your bag with the tag attached. If the bag does go missing, showing an airline agent a photo of the bag and the specific tag helps them identify it in a sea of identical black or navy suitcases.
The Away tag is a small detail, but it’s part of the cohesive travel experience that the brand promises. Once you get the hang of the buckle and the placement, you won't have to think about it again. It just works.
Quick Checklist:
- Write contact info with a permanent marker.
- Choose the side handle over the top handle for safety.
- Feed the strap through the tag loop first.
- Buckle tightly but leave room for the leather to breathe.
- Keep the buckle facing away from the suitcase shell.
By taking these small precautions, you're not just attaching an accessory; you're securing your belongings. The peace of mind is worth the two minutes of effort it takes to get it right.