Airport Baggage Checks: What To Expect When Traveling

Airports do check checked bags. After you check your bag in, it travels on a network of conveyor belts to a warehouse-like facility, where it is scanned by Transportation Security Administration staff to check for explosives, illegal drugs or weapons. The odds that you and your suitcase will be on the same flight are overwhelmingly in your favour, but there is a one per cent chance that your bag won't reach your destination at the same time as you.

How to ensure your checked luggage is yours

Although the system works perfectly 99% of the time, there is a small chance that your checked luggage won't reach your destination at the same time as you. To ensure that your checked luggage is yours, always double-check the luggage tag and examine each piece of luggage to ensure it hasn't been damaged. You should also make sure that your luggage is labelled correctly, as accidental mislabelling of destination codes by check-in clerks or identification labels becoming detached can cause handlers to not know where the bags are supposed to go.

What to do if your checked luggage is damaged

It is important to check your checked luggage for damage when you retrieve it at baggage claim. SITA (Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques), an airline service organisation that tracks progress in improving luggage handling, reports that worldwide, 26 million bags were "mishandled" in 2012, a dramatic improvement from the 47 million that went missing in 2007. Put another way, the system works perfectly 99 percent of the time. When it doesn't, the main reason involves bags that must be unloaded and transferred to a connecting flight within 60 minutes. Other reasons for mishandling include accidental mislabelling of destination codes by check-in clerks, or identification labels becoming detached so handlers don't know where the bags are supposed to go.

If your checked luggage is damaged, you should:

• Report the damage to the airline as soon as possible, preferably before leaving the airport. Take photos of the damage and keep all documentation related to your luggage, such as baggage tags and receipts.
• Contact your travel insurance provider to file a claim. Most travel insurance policies cover damaged luggage, but you will need to provide proof of the damage and may need to submit a police report if the damage was caused by theft or vandalism.
• If the damage was caused by the airline's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the airline's customer service department and provide details of the incident, including photos and any relevant documentation.
• Consider using a luggage repair service to fix any damage to your luggage. Many airports have on-site luggage repair services, or you can find a local repair shop.
• Prevent future damage by investing in high-quality, durable luggage and using protective covers or cases. Always pack fragile items carefully and consider using a luggage lock to deter theft.

How checked luggage is scanned for security

After you check in your luggage, it will travel on a network of conveyor belts to a warehouse-like facility. Here, it will be scanned by Transportation Security Administration staff to make sure there's nothing in it that shouldn't be there, such as explosives, illegal drugs or weapons.

After this, your luggage will be loaded onto the plane. In large airports, thousands of bags are processed every hour. There is a one per cent chance that your bag won't reach your destination at the same time as you. This could be because it has to be transferred to a connecting flight within 60 minutes, or because of accidental mislabeling of destination codes or identification labels becoming detached.

How to ensure your checked luggage arrives at the same time as you

Although the system works perfectly 99% of the time, there is a small chance that your checked luggage won't arrive at the same time as you. To ensure that your checked luggage arrives at the same time as you, you can take a few steps. Firstly, double-check the luggage tag to make sure it is yours and examine your luggage for any damage. You should also make sure that the destination label is secure and won't become detached, as this can cause handlers to lose your luggage.

What to do if your checked luggage is going to a different destination

Airports do check checked luggage. After you check your bag, it travels around a network of conveyor belts and is scanned by Transportation Security Administration staff to make sure there's nothing in it that shouldn't be there, such as explosives, illegal drugs or weapons.

If your checked luggage is going to a different destination, it will take longer for the airline to arrange a reunion with your bag. This could be due to accidental mislabelling of destination codes by check-in clerks, or identification labels becoming detached so handlers don't know where the bags are supposed to go. It could also be because your bag had to be unloaded and transferred to a connecting flight within 60 minutes.

If your bag doesn't arrive at the same time as you, you should double-check the luggage tag to ensure it is really yours and to examine each piece of luggage to ensure it hasn't been damaged.

Frequently asked questions