Travel

Tips for Getting Your Bags from the Carousel First

While most times flying is entertaining, there are periods when you wait impatiently at baggage claim for your bags. Luggage collection may seem endless to anyone who has just flown for hours. You can actually do some things to boost your chances that your bags appear early. Though airports cannot guarantee control over baggage handling, you can take some steps to make your chances of avoiding a delay higher.

Check In Early or Late

One of the biggest influencing factors on when your luggage will appear on the carousel is the order bags are loaded on the plane. Airlines will load bags into the cargo bin in the opposite order they will remove it. Bags loaded first are usually at the back of the luggage compartment, while bags loaded last will be at the front. As such, your strategy depends on your timing at the check-in counter or luggage drop.

If you’re early to check in, your bag might end up at the bottom of the cargo hold, meaning it’ll be unloaded last. On the other hand, checking in very late is risky: while your bag might likely be last on and first off, late check-ins sometimes lead to lost or mishandled luggage. To reduce your chances, aim for balance — check in mid-way in the line when there likely aren’t crowds at the desk and your carry-on is likely to be stowed in an in-between location. This will likely translate into shorter lag at baggage claim.

Take Non-Stop Flights

If you have a choice of flying either non-stop or taking one or two connecting flights, always opt for non-stop. When you make a flight change, the travel of your bag is even more complicated. Mismeasuring when handling, misrouting, or being delayed when transferring can not only increase the chances of losing your luggage but also bump your bag down to the lowest priority list for early unloading. Conversely, when you fly direct, your suitcase has only one round trip and the process is that much easier — i.e., a better chance that it actually shows up on schedule at baggage claim.

Invest in Premium Perks and Services

In some cases, airlines give you the option to pay for priority handling of your luggage. This is typically something that comes with first-class or business-class tickets but sometimes can be added to an economy ticket for a small premium. Priority baggage is marked and often gets extra handling by bag handlers, so that it is among the first bags off the aircraft and onto the carousel. While it will be an added cost, it is worth every penny if having the convenience of time saved and not having to fight the crowd at the carousel is important to you.

The second option is to become a member of frequent flyer programs with certain airlines. Elite status can give you priority boarding and processing of bags. Even when you travel in economy class, reaching a higher tier of a loyalty program assures VIP treatment for you and your bag too.

Choose a Uniquely Identifiable Bag Tag or Marker

Although your bag will not necessarily come physically earlier with a flashy luggage tag, it can help you lay hands on it the moment it shows up on the carousel. Handlers usually group similar or easily recognizable bags together — sometimes for sheer convenience. A vivid, noticeable strap or tag can serve to make your bag easily recognizable not only to you but also to ground personnel sorting through hundreds of ordinary-looking suitcases. Bright colors, unique stitching, or personalized tags give that extra oomph to your bag so it won’t be the last thing on your mind when unloading.

Select Smaller Aircraft and Airports

For those who can adjust their travel days and are not flying from main airport hubs, traveling with smaller planes or to quieter airports could reward you. Because there are only a few baggage compartments on a small aircraft, deplaning tends to be faster. Regional or less-busy airports also have more efficient baggage systems, which move bags through in fewer minutes than the larger, over-the-top international hubs.