London Luton airport launches Christmas ‘teddy tag’ scheme to stop cuddly toys from going missing on flights

A London airport has launched a ‘teddy tag’ scheme to ensure children’s cuddly toys aren’t lost this Christmas. Parents travelling through Luton Airport can register a cuddly toy’s name, flight number and contact details, so any left behind can be quickly reunited with their owner.

The new teddy-tag scheme has been launched after research into 800 parents, of children aged up to nine, found 70 per cent would do whatever they felt necessary to retrieve a lost cuddly toy. Clare Armstrong, head of guest experience at London Luton Airport, said: “We understand that travelling during the Christmas period can be a taxing time for parents, and losing a child’s toy can cause a real upset.

“This year alone, we have collected approximately 200 toys, comforters and teddies that have been left behind by families, and whilst we have happily been able to reunite some of these toys with their owners, it is always a difficult process.

“The Teddy Tag system means that it is now easier to reunite children with their favourite toys, taking the stress out of the process should a teddy get misplaced on the journey.”

The scheme launched on December 19 and Teddy Tags will be available to collect for free at check-in and information desks, as well as wider security gates as part of the airport’s

family-friendly offering. Jo Christie, 33, whose little girl Meilia, 7 lost her Teddy, Kaydog, during a family holiday, said: “I love the idea of the Teddy Tags and the airport’s commitment to returning lost toys.

“It really is a nightmare for parents to lose a cherished family toy at any time of year but especially at Christmas when the pressure is on for everything to be perfect. Kaydog represents our real dog that sadly passed away so she’s extra special to my little girl. We will definitely be picking up a Teddy Tag for Kaydog next time we travel.”

Luton Airport is also hosting a toy reunion page on its website with images of unclaimed teddies and toys alongside information about where they were found and how passengers can arrange to have them sent home. Luton Airport’s  research also found that more than half of parents agree that the absence of a much-loved cuddly toy impacted their holiday negatively, and 86 percent consider the cherished item to be one of the top priorities when packing.