An airport worker has claimed there is a simple way to increase the chances of your suitcase being first off the plane, but the strategy carries risks during busy periods.
Check in late for front-of-line bags
Posting on Quora, Thomas Lo Sciuto, a US-based ramp agent and gate worker at an airport, explained how bags are loaded onto planes. He 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."
If you are last in the check-in queue, your bags go on last and are more likely to be unloaded first at your destination. However, checking in late can mean not having enough time to get through security, so it is best avoided during peak times.
Size matters on larger planes
For some types of aircraft, luggage size makes the difference. HuffPost reported that some airlines, such as Delta, which flies from Terminal 3 at London-Heathrow, organise checked bags by size to balance the load. On larger planes, bags are sorted into ‘cans’ – large bins holding several cases – so the position of your bag depends on the weight of the can and the balance of the plane, meaning you have no control over how quickly it returns.
Fragile stickers and priority tags
Another hack that regularly circulates is asking for a ‘fragile’ sticker at the check-in desk. Some regular travellers claim airport ground staff load fragile items last to prevent them being crushed, meaning these items may be unloaded first.
Some airlines offer ‘priority’ stickers for checked bags, so handlers are supposed to unload them first. For example, British Airways’ Club class (business class) bags get a brightly coloured priority tag. These classes also tend to include additional checked bags. Frequent flyers at the highest tiers may also be entitled to priority handling.
Hand luggage is the fastest option
The fastest way through arrivals is to opt for hand luggage only, allowing you to skip the carousel wait and go straight to the taxi rank.
