Airport Security: Do They Inspect Checked Baggage?

Checking in your suitcase at the airport can be a nerve-wracking experience. After all, you're trusting the airline to transport your belongings safely to your destination. But what actually happens to your suitcase after you check it in? And how likely is it that your luggage will get lost? In this article, we'll explore the complex journey that checked baggage takes through the airport, from the initial security check to the sorting process, and find out what happens when luggage goes missing. We'll also look at the restrictions on what you can pack in your suitcase and the steps you can take to minimise the risk of losing your luggage.

What happens to checked bags?

After check-in, your checked bags will go off on a conveyor belt to be sorted. Depending on the airport, they will either be sorted by robots or staff and sent to the correct plane, or sorted and stored ready for a later flight. During this process, your bags will be screened at a security checkpoint. This involves an X-ray or CT scan, and sometimes a visual inspection if the contents of the suitcase are deemed suspicious or require further examination.

The process of checking and sorting luggage is complex, and sometimes bags do get lost or delayed. However, this is rare, with only 3% of luggage being lost or delayed. If you have a very short stopover, or if there is a breakdown in the machinery, your bag may not board the same flight as you.

How does the airport check my suitcase?

Checking in your suitcase at the airport is a complex process. After check-in, your suitcase will be sent off on a conveyor belt. Depending on the airport, it will either be sorted by robots or staff to go to the right plane, or sorted and stored ready for a later flight. During this process, your bag will be screened at a security checkpoint. This is similar to the process you go through with your hand luggage, where bags are scanned with an X-ray machine or CT scanner. If there is any doubt about the contents of a suitcase, the police will open it for a visual inspection.

Before this, at the check-in counter, each bag is tagged with a label specifying destination, airline, flight number and passenger. You will then need to go through security, where an X-ray is used to check that there is nothing dangerous or prohibited inside the luggage.

You may be wondering what happens if your luggage is lost. Well, the truth is that very few suitcases are actually lost. In fact, only 3% of luggage is lost or delayed. Sometimes, if you have a very short stopover, or if there is a breakdown in the machinery, your bag may not board the same flight as you.

What happens if there is something dangerous or prohibited in my luggage?

When you check in your suitcase at the airport, it will be tagged with a label specifying destination, airline, flight number and passenger. Then, it will go through a security check, where an X-ray is used to check that there is nothing dangerous or prohibited inside the luggage. If there is any doubt about the contents of a suitcase, the police will open it for a visual inspection.

If you accidentally transport something dangerous or prohibited in your luggage, there will be consequences. Airport security staff are very strict when removing dangerous items, and you could be marched out of the airport in handcuffs. You will also face some form of penalty, which varies from country to country. In the USA, the TSA can impose a fine of up to USD $13,910 per person for every rule violation. For example, if you transport three illegal bottles of spirits, you could incur a USD $40,000 fine. However, checked luggage violations tend to come with smaller fines in the region of USD $2,000. But in some cases (such as firearms or explosives), the fine is less important than the criminal referral.

If you realise that you have a prohibited item in your hand luggage at the security check, the airline company will probably offer to send it as stored luggage. However, this may be inconvenient due to the price or the item being too fragile, too large, or too small.

What happens if my suitcase doesn't arrive at the same time as me?

When you check in your suitcase at the airport, it will be tagged with a label specifying its destination, airline, flight number and passenger. It will then go through a security check, where an X-ray machine or CT scanner is used to check that there is nothing dangerous or prohibited inside the luggage. If there is any doubt about the contents of a suitcase, the police will open it for a visual inspection.

If your suitcase doesn't arrive at the same time as you, it's important to remember that this is a relatively common occurrence. There are a few things you can do to try and locate your suitcase. Firstly, check with a baggage agent or the airline's app to see where the bag was last scanned. It may only be a matter of hours or a day or two before you are reunited with your suitcase. If your bag hasn't arrived with you, the airline's baggage office (or contract agency) is responsible for returning it to you and should be willing to cover the cost of doing so. Make sure you provide them with your local address so they can deliver it to you. You can also fill out a lost luggage form at the airport.

It's worth noting that what we call 'lost luggage' also includes luggage that arrives late at the airport of destination. In some cases, your bag may not board the same flight as you if you have a very short stopover or if there is a breakdown in the machinery. Luggage from a single flight will sometimes come in waves, so just because your suitcase didn't arrive with the first few rounds of luggage, that doesn't necessarily mean it's lost. It's recommended that you wait 30 to 45 minutes for your bags, as airport baggage procedures can get quite complex at large hubs.

What am I allowed to bring in my suitcase?

Your suitcase will be checked at the airport to make sure there is nothing dangerous or prohibited inside. This is done by scanning your luggage with an X-ray machine or CT scanner. If there is any doubt about the contents of your suitcase, the police will open it for a visual inspection.

So what are you allowed to bring in your suitcase? Well, that depends on where you're flying to and from, and the specific rules of the airport and airline you're using. However, there are some general rules that apply in most cases.

Firstly, you are not allowed to bring any dangerous items in your suitcase. This includes things like weapons, explosives, and flammable liquids. You are also not allowed to bring any prohibited items, such as drugs or other illegal substances.

In addition to these restrictions, there are also some items that are restricted in terms of quantity or type. For example, you may be limited in the amount of liquids you can bring, and there may be specific rules about electronics. It's important to check the specific rules for your airport and airline before packing these items.

Finally, it's worth noting that even if an item is allowed in your suitcase, it may still be subject to additional screening or inspection. This is especially true for items that are large, unusual, or difficult to identify with an X-ray scan. So if you're bringing something that might raise eyebrows, be prepared to explain what it is and why you're bringing it.

Frequently asked questions