Airport security and luggage restrictions can be stressful on holidays and are only added when you are waiting to see if your suitcase is away from the plane. The fear of lost luggage looms on many of us to the point where we see it in the carousel. However, there are some simple tips to promise to get your suitcase away from the plane first.
The advice from Escape.com is to check in as late as possible for flights. The rationale? Late check-in means your bags are loaded last and theoretically first come out on arrival, said Thomas Roschute, a ramp worker and gate agent at US Regional Airports.
An airport employee said, “Your best option is to be one of the last passengers to check your bag, as the bags are always loaded from the front to the back in the bag cart.”
However, the bags don't just load based on timing. Those who can't stand the idea of checking in at the last minute are happy to know that weight also plays a role in some cases.
SmarterTravel has announced to HuffPost that the US airline giant Delta, which operates at Terminal 3 at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), will organize its luggage into large and small loads to balance weight distribution.
When people check their luggage, they hold many bags and are filtered into “cans” or large boxes that can be moved as a single unit. SmarterTravel said: So, how far the bag goes back depends on the weight of the can and the needs of the plane.
Airplanes with a single aisle tend to “loose” individually “loose” bags, rather than grouping them into cans, as they do with wider planes. In this case, checking the bag will tend to enter the holding area.
As luggage is transported to the plane and loaded just before the flight, the chances of being loaded initially depend on when you checked in.
If the bag is checked early, it could be behind the storage area. This means that it will be the last on the plane and potentially the first to turn off.
Other ways to secure the bag from the carousel first when landing includes flagging it as “fragile.”
news.com.au says this savvy approach often means that the luggage is loaded onto the plane last and offloaded first, which could reduce waiting times in the carousel.
However, when using “fragile” stickers, travelers should remove old tags from their bags to avoid confusion. To make your luggage unique, you can choose bright colors, personalized tags, or tightly tied ribbons to make your bag easier to find.
The most indefinite system to leave the airport as soon as possible is to take your baggage only. Make sure this complies with the requirements of your particular airline and avoid being asked to check your cabin bag.
Personal items, also known as small bags, can fit under the seat in front of you, and are usually less than 40x30x20cm.
The cabin bag must be stored in the locker overhead. Usually, you can weigh up to 10kg and exceed 56x45x25cm.
For British airlines, British Airways generally offers the most generous free baggage allowance on basic fares.
Passengers can bring one 23kg cabin bag (56x45x25cm) and one small personal item (up to 40x30x15cm) for free.
Jet2 and Virgin Atlantic also offer free cabin bags (10kg, 56x45x25cm) and personal items.
