Airport security and luggage restrictions can make holidays stressful, and it’s only added to when you are left waiting to see if your suitcase makes it off the plane. The fear of lost luggage looms over many of us until the point that we see it on the carousel, and even then, you have to make sure other passengers don’t mistake it for their own. However, there’s a simple tip that promises to get your suitcase off the plane first so you can kick-start your holiday without delay.
Advice from Escape.com recommends checking in for your flight as late as possible. The rationale? Late check-ins mean your bags are loaded last and should theoretically come out first on arrival, stated Thomas Lo Sciuto, a ramp worker and gate agent at a regional US airport.
The airport employee said, “Your best option is to be one of the last passengers to check your bags. This is because bags will always be loaded front to back on the bag carts.”
However, bags aren’t only loaded based on timing. Those who can’t bear the thought of checking in at the last minute will be pleased to know that weight also plays a role in some cases.
SmarterTravel revealed to HuffPost that the US airline giant Delta, which operates out of Terminal 3 at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), organises luggage into big and small loads to balance the weight distribution.
As people check in their luggage, it is filtered into “cans” or big boxes that hold many bags and can be moved as a single unit. SmarterTravel said: “In other words, how far back your bag ends up depends on the weight of the can and the needs of the plane, not when you check it.”
Planes with a single aisle tend to “loose-load” bags individually rather than grouping them into cans, as done with wider planes. In this case, when you check a bag, it tends to go into a holding area.
Luggage is transported to the plane and loaded just before the flight, so its likelihood of being loaded first would depend on when it was checked in.
If a bag was checked early, it might be at the back of the storage area, which would mean it would be last on the plane and potentially first off.
Other ways to secure your bags off the carousel first when you land include flagging them as “fragile.”
News.com.au says this savvy approach often means your luggage will be loaded onto the plane last and thus offloaded first, which can cut down your waiting time at the carousel.
However, when using “fragile” stickers, travellers should remove any old tags from bags to avoid confusion. To make luggage distinctive, choosing bright colours, personalised tags, or tightly tied ribbons could make your bags easier to spot.
The most foolproof system for leaving the airport as quickly as possible is by taking hand luggage only. Ensure this complies with specific airline requirements to avoid being asked to check your cabin bag.
A personal item, also known as a small bag, must be able to fit under the seat in front of you and is usually no bigger than 40x30x20cm.
Cabin bags must be stored in the overhead locker. They can usually weigh up to 10kg and be no bigger than 56x45x25cm.
For UK airlines, British Airways generally offers the most generous free hand luggage allowance on its basic fares.
Passengers can free-of-charge bring one 23kg cabin bag (56x45x25cm) and one smaller personal item (up to 40x30x15cm).
Jet2 and Virgin Atlantic also offer a free cabin bag (10kg, 56x45x25cm) and a personal item.