USDA Stickers on Luggage

[DVCSunDevil]

We got back from our first Aulani trip last week. I am putting the luggage away and noticed the USDA "Inspected" stickers that were placed on every piece of checked luggage. For three pieces luggage the sticker was easy to take off because the hard outer shell of the luggage is textured. However, one piece of luggage has a smooth hard outer shell and the sticker is a nightmare to get off. Message to the Honolulu airport and USDA: stop using these annoying stickers! You must know that they are not easy to get off, so why use them and annoy travelers going to Hawaii? I used a razor blade to scrape off the sticker and it shaved off a piece of the plastic shell, but other than that it worked (although there is a very sticky film remaining). I know this is a venting session by me, so thank you for indulging.

 

[NorCalFanatic]

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[Great3]

Lol, vent away!!! I hate all them stickers also. They can‘t just tape them in half, they have to roll it flat all around the handles. I think they must laughing at us every time they put on the sticker.

Great3

 

[Oldie13]

Goo Gone is what I use to get any stickers/sticky residue off things.

 

[cgattis]

I’m with y’all. Idk what kind of special government glue that is, but we should dump that mess on the highway to end high-speed chases. It’s so insanely sticky and yeah, like OP says, it’s like they just TRY to cover the maximum possible surface area with it. That said, with my Un-Du scraper, I managed to get three off mostly intact for my scrapbook Ridiculously ready to go back already!!!

 

[bookbabe626]

FYI, Puerto Rico uses the same seemingly permanent stickers. Had to use GooGone to remove them after our last cruise. Making note to self to pack a travel size GooGone for our trip to Aulani in November.

 

[algae]

Yeah, I don't like the adhesive they use on those stickers, either. I guess it makes it harder to cheat and reuse the stickers on luggage that didn't go through the scanner. I use a bit of isopropyl alcohol to easily get that stuff off.

 

[monsterkitty]

FYI, Puerto Rico uses the same seemingly permanent stickers. Had to use GooGone to remove them after our last cruise. Making note to self to pack a travel size GooGone for our trip to Aulani in November.

Unless I'm mistaken and not remembering correctly, the stickers are placed on when you leave the Islands, not when arriving.

I had no idea they have travel sized GooGone.

 

[FFMickey]

Unless I'm mistaken and not remembering correctly, the stickers are placed on when you leave the Islands, not when arriving.

I had no idea they have travel sized GooGone.

Yes, it is placed when leaving for the continental US.

 

[AustinTink]

How are they inspecting the checked luggage? Is it just through the routine scanners? Hopefully they are not opening bags because they will never get mine closed again.

 

[bookbabe626]

Unless I'm mistaken and not remembering correctly, the stickers are placed on when you leave the Islands, not when arriving.

I had no idea they have travel sized GooGone.

Yup, on leaving, but the stickers are hard to remove no matter where you are having to deal with it.

if you can’t find the travel size, just pour some into an empty travel size shampoo bottle. I have a tiny funnel I keep around just for that kind of thing. I do the same with febreeze, because I like to have some with me in places like Vegas where your clothes get really smoky.

 

[monsterkitty]

How are they inspecting the checked luggage? Is it just through the routine scanners? Hopefully they are not opening bags because they will never get mine closed again.

They go through scanners before you even check in at the airport.

Yup, on leaving, but the stickers are hard to remove no matter where you are having to deal with it.

if you can’t find the travel size, just pour some into an empty travel size shampoo bottle. I have a tiny funnel I keep around just for that kind of thing. I do the same with febreeze, because I like to have some with me in places like Vegas where your clothes get really smoky.

As the stickers are placed on our bags when we leave, I'm till trying to figure out why I would need a travel bottle of GooGone when I can use it at home. I won't need it in Hawaii.

 

[bookbabe626]

As the stickers are placed on our bags when we leave, I'm till trying to figure out why I would need a travel bottle of GooGone when I can use it at home. I won't need it in Hawaii.

In our case, for both our Puerto Rico and Hawaii trips, we have stays other places both before and after our stays (cruises) there. For example, with our cruise out of PR, we had a few days at WDW before and after, and our Hawaii stay is Waikiki for a few days, cruise, Aulani for a few days, then over to DL in California for a few days. We tend to do longer trips, and I always remove all tags, labels, etc from the last portion during each leg, to avoid confusion with the baggage handlers for the next flight or hotel.

I find it’s handy for more than just the agricultural labels, it helps get sticky tags off purchases, and it’s good to get the gum or whatever off your shoe after you just stepped in something. Or sap from that hike in the woods, or that unknown substance on the counter in the hotel room.

YMMV, it’s really not that big of a deal. If you are going straight home and you don’t care about removing sticky stuff during your trip, don’t bring it. Whatever works for you.