TORONTO, May 28, 2026 – As the summer travel peak approaches, a recent CTV W5 investigation has raised concerns about suspected baggage tag switching at Canadian airports, with several travellers departing from Canada becoming involved in overseas law enforcement investigations. Follow-up reports by TravelPulse Canada on May 26 and Now Toronto also mentioned that, according to the investigation, at least 17 travellers departing from Canada had been detained, arrested or investigated overseas after their baggage tags were allegedly switched. Issues related to Toronto Pearson Airport have also drawn attention. For Chinese families preparing to return home, visit relatives, travel for school or make international connections, keeping complete records before checking luggage may directly affect their ability to explain the situation and protect their rights if something goes wrong.
What travellers should take from these reports is not panic, but the importance of not letting their “evidence chain” break at the check-in counter. Many passengers only keep their boarding pass and baggage receipt after checking their bags, without taking photos of the suitcase, baggage tag number, barcode or check-in record. If the suitcase, tag or number does not match after arrival overseas, it can be difficult for travellers to explain verbally which bag truly belongs to them.
Families travelling together, visiting parents and international students are especially likely to face this issue. Several people may check multiple suitcases at the same time, and many black, silver or dark blue bags look similar. Baggage receipts are often tucked into passports or boarding passes. After arrival, if passengers are rushing for a connection, travelling with children, facing a language barrier or dealing with a crowded baggage area, they may pick up a bag based only on colour and size, without checking the name, flight, destination and baggage number one by one.
Before departure, travellers should take photos of each checked bag, including the front, sides, handle, wheels, straps, stickers, scratches and any other details that can help prove ownership. After receiving baggage tags and receipts, they should also photograph the barcode, number, flight and destination, and confirm which receipt belongs to which suitcase. Electronic tickets, boarding passes and checked-bag records in airline apps should also be kept until the entire trip is completed.
After arrival, travellers should not rely only on suitcase colour. When collecting luggage, they should first check the name, flight and number on the baggage tag. If the bag looks wrong, the weight feels clearly unusual, the tag is damaged, or the number does not match the baggage receipt, passengers should stay inside the baggage area and immediately contact the airline baggage counter and airport staff to file a record, asking for a report number or written confirmation. Travellers should not open, remove or handle any bag if they are unsure whether it belongs to them.
The Canadian Transportation Agency’s passenger protection information also reminds travellers that damaged, delayed or lost baggage usually must be reported to the airline within specific deadlines, and passengers should keep baggage information, baggage tags and related receipts. For travellers with limited English, obtaining a report number on site and keeping counter records and email communications are often more useful than trying to recall details afterward.
It should be noted that the related cases remain alleged situations disclosed through media investigations and law enforcement reports. They should not be understood as meaning that all Canadian airports or all flights carry the same risk. Taking photos, keeping baggage receipts or using luggage trackers cannot fully prevent problems from happening. However, these records can help travellers more quickly explain the true appearance of their baggage, the check-in route and where responsibility may lie if a dispute occurs.
If Canadian citizens face law enforcement questioning, detention or other emergencies overseas because of a baggage issue, they can contact the local Canadian embassy or consulate, or Canada’s 24-hour emergency consular assistance service. Non-Canadian citizens should contact the embassy or consulate of their country of nationality. Families preparing to travel abroad should also store passport information, flight details, luggage photos, insurance documents and emergency contacts on both their phones and in the cloud, so they can still provide materials if their phone battery dies, the internet is unavailable or language communication becomes difficult.
Before travelling abroad this summer, passengers do not need to panic over the reports, but they should treat checked baggage as a process that requires record-keeping. Take clear photos before handing over the bags, check the receipts after receiving them, and verify the luggage again after arrival. If anything looks wrong, file a report at the airport immediately instead of handling the situation on your own or leaving the area. For families carrying multiple bags, international students and seniors visiting relatives, a few minutes of preparation may become key evidence later when explaining the situation and protecting their rights.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
