How to Check a Bag at the Airport | (avoid lost luggage) 

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Speaking as someone who has worked as a baggage handler for many years, there really is no way to give yourself an advantage to have your bag come out first at your destination. All airports and airlines do things slightly differently (based on their size and type of aircraft, among other things), but it's very random regardless. When you check your bag at the counter, it goes down and gets loaded into a cart for your specific flight. But a cart can only hold up to 50 or so bags, and most flights will have 100+ checked bags on them and multiple carts are used to transport the bags. When they get loaded on the plane, it's not done based on when they were checked in. They can also be loaded into separate ends of the aircraft, particularly at flights destined for airports where a lot of connections happen. Even if you're not making a connection (which adds significant variables to your bag's journey), simply having your bag being the last one loaded onto the plane doesn't guarantee it'll be the first one onto the claim belt...actually quite the opposite. When the bags are being unloaded from the plane, the last bags onto the plane are the first ones loaded into the carts used to transport them to the claim area. And the first bags into the cart are going to be the ones on the bottom that will be the last to be put onto the carousel. You actually have a better chance of getting your bag first if it's the first one loaded onto the plane, and therefore the last one unloaded and at the top of the stack in the cart. But again, there is really no way to influence that as a passenger, because where your bag is loaded on the plane is up to the ground crew. And with multiple carts of bags, it can also be quite random which one ends up being the first one unloaded at the claim area anyway. And then with widebody aircraft, it's a completely different scenario since the bags are put into containers loaded directly onto the plane...but just as many variables dictating where your bag will end up in the order. There are even more complexities to the process beyond that...but all this to say, there is really no way to influence it as a passenger. My only tip is to NOT buy cheap luggage with crappy wheels and zippers that easily break. And don't overstuff your bag so that it is bulging out in every direction. Every bag I've ever seen pop open and people's stuff end up all over the ground has been a result of one of those two things.

Another important tip - make sure there are NO stickers or tags from past flights left on your luggage. If the wrong one is scanned, your luggage won’t end up where you do. I take them off when I unpack.

Take a picture of your luggage. In the unfortunate event you don't have your luggage a picture will help them to know what to look for

Number 1 Tip: make sure to never let the check in agent put the luggage tag on your bag (long ways/stuck directly to the fabric or plastic wrapping) instead of on your handle. This happened to me and the tag came off. My bags were left in a connecting airport. Make sure the tag is only placed on the bags handle!

I check in 2 hours national and 3 hours international. I also make sure that I have only the current luggage labels and identification on the outside of the checked bag.

In my experience, whether you check in early or late has no bearing on when your luggage will arrive at the destination’s baggage carousel.

I used to be a baggage handler and I can confirm that a 'fragile' sticker means absolutely nothing to the baggage handlers. They are treated the same way as any other bag

3:15 Great tip that you may have to pick up your checked bags while on a layover on an international trip. I have been traveling to South Asia for the last 45+ years and one layover I noticed that people were picking up their checked bags. I looked for my luggage and to my surpris4e it was their. I just followed the crowd & went through security again & re-checked it. This only happened once in 45+ years and no airline rep told me to I would have to do it. They should really print that on the luggage tag or boarding pass or something. Really a poor practice or behalf of the airlines not to do so.

For domestic - I use a carry on bag only & if it's for work - I take my suit pack with spare ties, shirts & hotel resting clothes. I use a ziplock bag for toiletries & rely on my tablet & compendium as my PC. Best friend came back on a domestic flight to find someone collected his bag - the bags were different colours & brands too. I try not to check bags but if I do the handles all have a yellow tag on them.

I like to arrive at airport 2.5 - 3 hrs before flight. Mostly 3 hrs, because you should technically arrive 2 hrs before boarding and it takes awhile to check luggage, and then get thru security and customs if applicable.

Good tips. The only thing that I would skip is the fragile tag. Imagine everyone puts fragile tags on their luggage?

Love your channel, glad I found it! I travel a lot during the year and as mentioned in some of your previous videos, I too learned the hard way initially :) Thanks for sharing!

Flying from my hometown of Lisbon to the Middle East this Wednesday on vacation. Thanks again for the tips and hacks.

Gosh, I take luggage delivery for granted but your video raised the alarm to think more thoroughly- so check in not too early or too late, be sure to re-check in the bags at layover if necessary, and take pictures of luggage and keep all receipts. As an extra precaution, I will make sure to carry enough clothing for a few days on my carry-on and/or backpack that way I can still have fun for a few days in case of luggage delays. Thanks for your great advice.

Really good info. We're usually early, and at times even when our bags get a "priority" tag, they come off very late!

All of this advice works well on paper, but once you arrive at the airport, everything changes. Given post-pandemic travel, you definitely want to arrive at the airport as early as possible and check in at the first opportunity. Whether that means your luggage is put in a holding area is less of a concern than missing your flight because you cut it too close. Also, the "sweet spot" of dropping off your luggage is also the busiest time for the check-in counters, so you will be waiting a lot longer on line just so you can save some time on the luggage pick up time. It just evens out overall and there is really no NET time savings. Like many things in life, you get what you pay for. If getting your luggage first is so important to a passenger, then get the first class, business class or premium economy seats that also allows for priority check-in, priority boarding and priority bag handling. There is no such thing as free lunch. Though I appreciate Megan outlining all the academic process of getting an advantage on checked bags.

Because so many people ask for fragile tags for bags that aren’t fragile (because they were advised to on the internet) they have now “cried wolf” for fragile tags and spoiled it for everyone who actually have fragile items in their bags. Most international flights load their bags into containers that are all loaded at once - so checking your bag in early or late makes little difference. The best way to ensure your bag comes up first is to be eligible for priority baggage (have airline status) so support your favourite airline(s)!Everyone should ensure their bags are not overpacked and that they have their name and phone number (with country code) on the bag in case the airline tag comes off.

Thanks for the video! I'm just bringing carry on especially because easyjets 25€ flights charge a lot extra for checked bags

Taking two international trips in the next 60 days. I'm definitely taking carry-on for the short flight/stay (Mexico) but doing the mental debate with the longer flight/stay in the Netherlands. Schipol has been in the news lately discussing the airport doesn't want travelers arriving too early, yet their lines are horrific. I don't want to lose my bag, I want to arrive early since checking in for flights to America feels like it takes forever. Your information and tips are always spot on and much appreciated by me. Have a wonderful day/week 😊

Excellent advice

Another smart video with useful content!

Even how careful you checked your baggage when your flight was sooo delayed and you already missed your connecting flight the luggage will not come with you. It happened to me last week. Thank you for your tips ma’am appreciate it.

I was one of the first to check-in for a flight from Sydney to HCM City last month and my bag was one of the first out on the carousel in Vietnam. With the security chaos in Sydney I am glad that I did check-in early. I am also reluctant to tempt fate at the moment by flying multiple legs, it is direct flights only for me until the post COVID chaos dies down. Brightly coloured luggage - lime green or orange - is also easier to see on the carousel. Too many black bags otherwise.

Solid advice.

Currently if traveling internationally and I have bags to check I definitely get to airport 3hr before flight departs. If I can recheck my bags I also do so. I find this means if the lines are long I still have plenty of time to get bag checked and get through security and passport control. Some countries require further checks so you need to get to the gate no later than 1.5hrs before flight departs. This ensures all secondary checks are carried out. If you are late I have seen people not allowed to board the plane as they don’t have enough time to carry out checks

The only thing that guarantees that your bag makes it out early is flying a premium cabin, like First or Bis. Some airlines offers this perk in Premium Eco, but far from all. Another very important thing that you forgot in the video (and probably the most important) is when printing the bag tag out yourself you need to place the small extra barcodes stickers on your bag. This is due to the bagtag might fall off in transit and these have saved my bag from getting lost several times.

Great info , thanks

Another excellent video loaded with well-thought-out tips and advice. As always, very much appreciated :)

Not sure that the advice to check in late, but not too late, so that your bag comes out first, is really solid or proven. In general, bags, after drop off, go through the carousel, security checks, more carousel, and then land in the destination specific slot, where they get taken and loaded onto a baggage cart. If I assume that while traveling on carousels all bags are kept in FIFO sequence, then your bag that has been checked quite late, arrives at the baggage cart late, so it should be on top of that cart. Assuming that the plane is small enough that there is only one cart going to your plane, then your bag that is on top of the cart, will go into the plane first, so it is in the back (LIFO). Now at the destination, the process is the reverse, and technically, your bag in the back, should be on top of the bagagge cart (again assuming only one cart - LIFO process), and that would indeed get it out to you relatively early, as it is on top (FIFO). So, I see why you say what you are saying. But the reality of actual airport baggage handling is that many more movements are happening and sequences are not as logical or predictable as you think. Depending on your check-in counter location, your travel time to the baggage slot may route you through different baggage routes, altering your place within the line, transfer baggage gets thrown in with new departure luggage, security checks that are manual may delay your bag, and the baggage handlers may at times pull your bag off the belt, but leave it next to the belt, because no baggage cart is available at that moment. In such a case, the whole process reverses or becomes quite random. On the other hand, your strategy of checking in late, is increasing the risk that your baggage does not make it at all, and that risk is not worth the off-chance that you might be waiting five minutes less at baggage claim. If there is only one baggage cart to be unloaded, five minutes is all the difference between a 'top' bag, and one that lands on the bottom of the cart. And if it is a big plane and there are tons of baggage carts going to the same plane, the whole loading and unloading process becomes very random very quickly, and you have no idea whether your bag will be in the back or the front of any specific luggage section within the plane.

I'm flying out of Toronto Pearson to Tokyo via Atlanta in a few weeks. Delta Premium Economy which is supposed to provide priority for bags and security (which I hope is true). 6:15am flight. With the weaknesses Pearson is showing at the moment I'm not so confident that baggage check, security, and immigration will line up nicely. I'll verify but my bags should be checked straight through to Tokyo. I didn't need to pick them up when coming to Canada. I'm not too concerned about when they are put on the plane in Toronto. One piece of obvious advice from our trip. In Atlanta we had to go through immigration but my daughter needed to use the restroom. In the time she was there the passengers from at least one plane walked by putting us that far back at immigration. So if you are not solo you can get in line, then have one use the restroom.

Hello, I love all your videos. All your tips and tricks are very helpful as my new position for this job requires me to fly75% of the time. I wouldn't mind at all having you as my flying partner. Your videos are straight forward and I look forward to new uploads. I love your smile and the way you present yourself. Keep up the great work! Maybe we'll run into each other one day at the airport! Bye!

2 hours is my sweet spot for arriving at the airport for my flight

Great tips! I always verify (a couple times) whether our bags are checked all the way through, or if we need to pick them up for our connecting flight. 🌺✈Heidi

Paint your initials on your luggage so that if the tag is ripped off its easy for the airline to identify it from passenger manifests..

Very handy tips

Usually 4 hrs before my flight but waiting for almost an hour to retrieve my bags on arrivals.it was a nightmare. From UK to Mauritius. Thank you for your tips

My last international flight, arrived at SeaTac from Iceland. Picked up our bags, went through customs and then took our bags to the drop off area to be put on our next flight. We had 3 bags on an airport cart and one roller bag. The single roller bag made it on the flight, the 3 bags on the cart did not. There was an employee at the drop off loading the bags onto the belt. She told us to just leave the bags on the cart near the belt. The bags were delivered the next day and at least it was our final destination, home.

When I was leaving Singapore headed back to the US, I checked in 5 hours early because I wanted to fully explore the amazing airport that was Changi International Airport such as the free movie theater, butterfly garden, amazing food courts, etc. But then again, that's Changi and not some crappy US airport.

Two flights from Sydney to Washington DC departed within an hours. My hubby’s bag was put on the wrong flight. Luckily we were staying a number of days and the bag was delivered to our hotel. 🍀 Thx for these pointers.

Chech the monitor screen frequently to make sure gate assignment has not changed. I was in Panama expecting to board a a particular gate, only to recheck a few minutes prior to boarding an find the gate changed to one a good distance away. Also, same airport, they can't seem to figure out a consistant way to mark their gates. So you might be waiting at gate 5 only to find that they have a 5 A & B gate as well farther away.

Thank You.

hmmm, If we follow the guidelines set my our airport ( Toronto Pearson) they advise due to the long check in times and the long lines to get into security to come at least 3 hours before your international flight. If I want to make my flight I will follow what they ask. I have an Airtag, I take pictures of my luggage and as long as my bag comes out I am happy.

A couple more tips from a 3 million miler. I always take a picture bags I check. If lost, this is critical. Another thing I do is put a large orange X on my bags using duck tape. May not be attractive but nobody will ever mistake my bag for theirs.

Well here is the thing.. LHR is crazy busy right now so you have to check in early. I always book in 4 hours before, touch wood not had a problem in 36 years of international travel.

Thanks for the info

I like KLM and Air France business class where they tag your checked baggage for 1st off. It worked the last time to AMS. Our luggage came out first and we the first to Dutch Customs.

Toronto airport is such a mess these days, we would never get through security if we aren't there 4 hrs before.

I am absolutely not checking any bags until 2024. Here in Europe it is a hot *ss mess. Next week will be our (my husband and I) first time on a long haul flight traveling with a carry-on. Amsterdam Schiphol, London Heathrow, German airports are a hot *ss mess.

It may be true the last in, first out can be expected but majority is not always the case so don’t hope your luggage will go first. Checking in early doesn’t mean they have a big chance of not getting to the destination as they are mostly placed in a container cart not on the floor. I always have at least 4 hours of layover in major US airports for my next international flight mostly with international carriers or airlines and never experienced as such. As for fragile, most airlines especially international carriers have a separate carrier cart and they’re either loaded first or last.

Thanks!

I travel using a wheelchair which gets stowed down in the luggage hold once I am seated in the plane. Once we land it is brought up so I can leave the plane. This sometimes takes a VERY long time so I am always hoping my luggage is last on the carousel as I am always last to get to the luggage pick up area.

One trick I use from time to time is to pack a starter pistol in the checked bag causing me to declare the "firearm" during the check in process. One big benefit there is that it's hard for the airline to lose the bag then since there's a lot of paperwork they have to fill out when a firearm goes missing.

You should talk about keeping valuables in your luggage. I had 5000€ worth of designer items stolen from my checked bag while in Italy. They picked the TSA lock on my samsonite luggage.

I plan to arrive 2 hours b4 boarding for domestic@ 3 for international

Great tips, thank you. Going domestically here in Aus it doesn't make much difference. Things don't tend to get lost and there's barely 10min between bags being unloaded onto the belt and receipt of the last one. Flying internationally I've never caught less than 3 flights in which case these theories tend to go out the window. They're handy to know though.

In my experience, it is not too bad to have a lost bag, I always pack important /expensive stuff and what I need for the next 24 hours. There is a cash payment for the lost bag that is way more than anything I have in a checked bag. If they find the bag it gets delivered to the place you are staying.

I watched your video after I watched another baggage issue. Even if your baggage arrive in the train, there are now a common trend that thiefs are stealing baggages and go out straight (at the nearest exit). This is happening now in California and as you know, criminals just get a slap in their hands - goes out on probation even if a passenger would relentlessly pursue the case despite stealing hundreds of baggages already.

We always arrive two to three hours prior to boarding and always check our bags.

What about on-line baggage check in? AA has an online baggage check in. What are your thoughts on this procedure, and how does this process pan out?

The last few times that I flew domestically I went business or according to American First class. You get a priority sticker on your luggage and I have noticed that my bag is among the first up on the carousel. Of course it's going to cost more but one should get some perks for spending more. I just find air travel too stressful for me anymore and spending more for a better seat & service has helped quite a bit in diffusing stress.

What do you think about air tag trackers for your luggage? Thanks! I’m a new subscriber…

This coming winter, I got an overnight layover in Turkey. I'm collecting my luggage in Istanbul, and bringing it to the airport hotel, and rechecking to try to keep people from rifling through it looking for goodies.

Perfect

When traveling from Jamaica to Montreal we asked if we needed to pick up our bag in Montreal or if it would be loaded onto our connecting flight. While we were told we did not need to pick it up, we discovered later at our destination that it was still in Montreal. Better to check than risk misplaced bags.

Rule # 1. NEVER put jewelry, fragile items or prescription medication in checked baggage...NEVER!! If you put something fragile in a checked bag and a fragile sticker on it, baggage handlers will handle it more carefully. However, remember that baggage shifts around and moves with the movement of the aircraft. There is no guarantee that the other bags loaded with bags that have fragile stickers attached to them will read the fragile sticker. Dont check fragile items in you baggage. If its too large to fit on board the aircraft, ship it using Fed Ex/UPS etc. There are too many possibilities of damage to put fragile items in checked baggage or dont bring it.

They tell us we need to be at the airport 3-4 hours before an intdational flight, so that's what we do

I check my rollaboard at the gate, and it's often free. Then it goes in last and comes out first. Plus, I can use the roallaboard wheels for my "personal item" all the way to the gate.

Thank you 🙏.🇺🇸🇵🇷.

I never check a bag at the airport. I have my 35 liter ( max size allowed by all the major airlines ) roll away luggage case and 1 medium day pack that I bring on the plane. No worries, no drama, no lost or damaged luggage.

I am gonna put a running gopro in my checked bag my next flight just for kicks

I plan to be at the airport no later than 3 hours prior to the flight, and preferably 4. That should be enough time to get through the check-in lines and clear security, while trying to give some time should other matters arise. Long gone are the days when getting there the hour the flights are scheduled. The other matter to consider is the traffic that tends to be encountered when getting to the airport. I'd rather spend time grabbing a snack and browsing the shops then worry about being stuck in traffic and wondering if I'd arrive in time to catch the flight.

From a TALK that I had listened to one way of identifying your luggage is to make it look different from the rest of the luggage of the same brand. Tie something to the handle that makes you identify it quickly that that bag is yours or put a lot of stickers. In other words personalize your bag. Just imagine how many number of bags of the same kind the manufacturer will make in a year. That way others with the same bag will not mistake your bag as theirs because its identical to what you have.

With the nightmare at security in most domestic airports, it has been recommended to get to the airport 3-4 hrs prior to a domestic flight, instead of 2 hrs in the past. I know people who waited one hr at the Orlando FL airport to check their bags and almost 2 hrs at security. What you recommend? As a side note, we are in the process of signing up for tsa pre-check.

Thank you for all info! One question please! Could I pack instant coffee into check in luggage? Not coffee beans. thanks. will wait for your reply.

Pretty in Pink!! :)

does the checkin of luggage also apply for connections where airline moves your luggage to the connection flight?

Even better, I like flying with carry-on baggage only!

For those of us with connections, how helpful is that “watch the time window” advice?

Too much to worry about flying to worry about getting my bag off the carousel first. I do put my contact info in multiple places Inside the bag in case the worst happens & I fill out & attach my own luggage tags.

Aviation has changed over the years…more profit meaning less staff on ground and one or two less cabin crew..thank god many of us are trained in aviation and can get out of any plane and assist pax

I've never seen any correlation at all between my bag drop time and the position it comes off. Even with a priority tag it's a crap shoot.

When on a flight I brought all my bags through and then when they ask for bags to be checked b4 loading I did that so I didn't have to pay for it.

Goingbto arrive almost 5 hours before, hopefully

I have a trick I use. I do carry on. with the hope that they ask for volunteers to put there bag in the belly. I always do that because it is guaranteed that it is on the flight and it is the last one loaded. LOL but if they don't I just go on as normal. I keep a small bag with the just in case stuff.

What are your opinions on using the Sky Cap? Second question. I need to arrive 3 hours before my flight. Do you think my bag would go into storage? You mentioned four hours. Thanks.

I will arrive at the airport 4 hours before the departure for international flight and 2 hours for domestic. I always asking and making sure at the check in counter that my begs are tagged to the correct end destination.

Does it matter what class you fly as well? Like for example Delta First class with SkyPriority. Asking because I am flying from MN to GA (layover) to OH and I am in first class

I will be taking my first international flight soon. I have a 3 hr. layover in SFO, so when should we check our bags?

I'm flying from Buffalo, NY to Tokyo, Japan in July with a layover in Atlanta. Since the layover is domestic will they automatically put my luggage onto the connecting flight or do I have to pick it up & recheck the luggage for the international flight from Atlanta to Tokyo?

i had a layover in mexico city to santiago. i asked specifically if i needed to transfer my bag. answer was no. if you were continuing on it would be taken to the next flight. not speaking spanish i got headed the wrong direction and a security guard escorted me to the baggage claim. where i did not need to go. you in fact have to collect your luggage. carry it to a employee to scan and place it on another conveyor. so lucky me i got lost or i would have continued my journey to santiago and arrived in another spanish speaking country with my luggage still revolving on a carousel in mexico. if you are concerned i would research it online before traveling for specific layover to your trip.

i usually travel internationally and i normally arrive 4 hours before departure due security check.

Usually arrive two hours ahead. I have TSA pre.

she is a product of US higher education and many consider her words of wisdom as truely that of a genius.......

Frequent flyers will normally have "Priority" stickers on their destination tags. Generally speaking they are separated, or put in a location in the cargo bin so they come off first, and are the first ones put on the belt at luggage claim. As for the rest of the luggage, they are NOT taken "one at a time" to the aircraft. They are stacked in a luggage cart, so it's a roll of the dice as to when your piece will be loaded. Forget trying to "time it" just right. That's a waste of energy!

I have a flight on spirit that leaves at 5:55 am Tuesday morning, how early should I get there?

Correct me if im wrong but if you are transfering onto a different plane, and your luggage is moved the last one on the previous flight will be the first one put on the new flight.

Airlines from UK and America are culprits when they transfer passengers onto a smaller flight on connecting at mostly middle east stops and final departure to India is common occurance😮

Great tips! What about long layovers? Like 12+ hours. Would you suggest to pick up checked bag at the connecting airport, if we’re spending the night at a hotel, or should we leave it at the airport? We’re flying with a single airline (Lufthansa) and have 18h layover in Munich, so we’re planning to hang out in town, but we won’t really need to have access to our checked bag.

Ryanair has lost my 2 bags on a round trip FCO- TLV each way one bag On June 5 and 15 After 2 month waiting, they said can't find it. I had a secure bag tag on the hands and inside the baggs Any suggestions?