Here's How to Make Sure Your Suitcase Comes out First at the Airport

| © Erwen Hesry
| © Erwen Hesry | © Erwen Hesry

Food Editor

Let’s be honest: flying sucks.

Sure, it’s amazing that you can circumnavigate the globe thousands of miles in the air like a huge, clumsy bird. But to do that, you must subject yourself to pat-downs, cramped seating and terrible food.

Once you’ve arrived where you’re headed, you want to get out of there as quickly as possible – but more often than not, you have to wait around for your bags to turn up like a late houseguest.

Sick of waiting to pick up your bags? We have the tip you for

Luckily for you, we’ve discovered the secret that means you’ll never have to wait for your bags ever again. And it doesn’t involve a private jet, bribery or paying for a super-fancy airline ticket.

A baggage handler at a regional US airport revealed how it’s done on Quora.

Thomas Lo Scuito wrote: ‘Your best option is to be one of the last passengers to check your bags. Bags will always be loaded front to back on the bag carts so if you check in last your bags will be in the last bag cart, which will make them the last on the aircraft, and the first off the aircraft at your destination. The same logic goes for the other end. If they are the first off the aircraft they will most likely be the first on the bag carts and then the first to be unloaded at baggage claim.’

Not a last-minute kind of person? That’s OK! There’s another option.

‘You can also gate check your bag so it will go on last. The downside of that method is that you will not be able to pack liquids or any other items that cannot go in a carry-on bag as you will need to bring the bag with you through the security checkpoint and to the gate.’

And of course: ‘Also remember to be nice to your counter agents and gate agents. The friendlier you are the more likely you will get what you want.’ Which is good advice for everything in life, not just at the airport.

One extra tip: ask the airline staff to put a ‘fragile’ sticker on your suitcase. Items labelled this way are handled more carefully that others, which can result in your bags not being stuffed deep into the hold, but placed delicately on top.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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