An airport luggage handler has revealed some simple tricks for reducing the amount of time you spend waiting for suitcases at the baggage carousel – and it all comes down to when you check in.

According to Thomas Lo Sciuto, a ramp and gate agent at a regional airport abroad, being "one of the last passengers to check in your bags" is the best way to ensure your luggage arrives early at your destination.

He revealed this information in a post that he made on the well-known forum website Quora, saying that the bags would always be loaded on the bag carts from front to back.

"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," he said.

"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."

An airport luggage handler shared his simple trick to cut carousel waiting time. Credit: Getty Images.​

He added that another way to ensure your bag arrives quickly is to ask the counter agent if you can "gate check" your bag, which means your carry-on will be placed in the cargo hold with all the other checked luggage.

However, Thomas pointed out that there is a drawback to this method.

"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," he said.

"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," he added. "Chances are the agent has already been yelled at multiple times for things they can't control, so they will go out of their way to help someone who is nice."

Another travelling tip was suggested by a woman in order to minimise the amount of time wasted waiting at the baggage claim.

"While checking in your luggage, ask the person on the counter to put a fragile tag on your luggage," she said, claiming that most often, the fragile tagged luggage comes onto the belt first.

To do this trick, simply ask the person checking you in to place a fragile tag on your luggage, even if you don't have anything fragile in it. If they ask what you're carrying, simply say something easily breakable like a glass piece or antique of some kind. We don’t condone lying here at the SDC though, so we’re going to start packing priceless ming vases in our bags whenever we travel.

Do you have more travelling tips and tricks, members? Share them with us in the comments below!

 

[Topher]

Airport hack to get your luggage FASTER, according to a handler​

An airport luggage handler has revealed some simple tricks for reducing the amount of time you spend waiting for suitcases at the baggage carousel – and it all comes down to when you check in.

According to Thomas Lo Sciuto, a ramp and gate agent at a regional airport abroad, being "one of the last passengers to check in your bags" is the best way to ensure your luggage arrives early at your destination.

​

He revealed this information in a post that he made on the well-known forum website Quora, saying that the bags would always be loaded on the bag carts from front to back.

"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," he said.

"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."

An airport luggage handler shared his simple trick to cut carousel waiting time. Credit: Getty Images.​

He added that another way to ensure your bag arrives quickly is to ask the counter agent if you can "gate check" your bag, which means your carry-on will be placed in the cargo hold with all the other checked luggage.

However, Thomas pointed out that there is a drawback to this method.

"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," he said.

"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," he added. "Chances are the agent has already been yelled at multiple times for things they can't control, so they will go out of their way to help someone who is nice."

​

Another travelling tip was suggested by a woman in order to minimise the amount of time wasted waiting at the baggage claim.

"While checking in your luggage, ask the person on the counter to put a fragile tag on your luggage," she said, claiming that most often, the fragile tagged luggage comes onto the belt first.

To do this trick, simply ask the person checking you in to place a fragile tag on your luggage, even if you don't have anything fragile in it. If they ask what you're carrying, simply say something easily breakable like a glass piece or antique of some kind. We don’t condone lying here at the SDC though, so we’re going to start packing priceless ming vases in our bags whenever we travel.

Do you have more travelling tips and tricks, members? Share them with us in the comments below!

 

[Topher]

When travelling international, we buy a small, cheap, souvenir made of wood, or preserved fruits - and declare it . We get shuffled into the Declared Items queue at the Arrivals' desk ... which normally has a very small queue.
On occasions, this means a wait of less than 5 minutes to be out of Customs!

 

[Tervueren]

When travelling international, we buy a small, cheap, souvenir made of wood, or preserved fruits - and declare it . We get shuffled into the Declared Items queue at the Arrivals' desk ... which normally has a very small queue.
On occasions, this means a wait of less than 5 minutes to be out of Customs!

Now that is SUPER SMART !! makes the most sense of all! Well thought out!