Luggage Check: Airport Security's Behind-The-Scenes Process

Checking in luggage at the airport is a straightforward process. You hand over your bag to an airline check-in agent at the check-in counter, who will weigh it, tag it and give you a receipt. Your bag will then be screened at a security checkpoint, where an X-ray machine or CT scanner will check for prohibited items. If there are any issues, the police will open your bag for a visual inspection. Once cleared, your bag will be loaded onto a cart and transported to the plane, where it will be placed in the cargo hold.

Checked bags go through their own x-ray machine in the backstage areas of the airport

When you check in a bag at the airport, you hand it over to an airline check-in agent at the check-in counter. They will weigh it, tag it with a label specifying destination, airline, flight number and passenger, and give you a receipt. Checked bags go through their own x-ray machine in the backstage areas of the airport, where they are screened at a security checkpoint. This is 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. Once cleared, your baggage will then be taken to the plane ready for loading. This is done by airport ramp agents who control the baggage movement and ensure that your bags get on the right plane. They are then loaded onto carts which transport the luggage to the plane, where they are placed in the cargo hold.

Checked bags are placed in the cargo hold of the plane

When you check in a bag at the airport, you hand it over to an airline check-in agent at the check-in counter. They will weigh it, tag it with a label specifying destination, airline, flight number and passenger, and give you a receipt. The bag will then go through its own security check, where a 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. After check-in, your bag will travel along a network of conveyor belts that will place it in the right place for the tractors to transport it to its assigned flight. Once there, the operators will place it in the cargo hold of the plane. When your plane arrives at its destination, the luggage will move along the same route but in the opposite direction, until it reaches the baggage reclaim area.

Checked bags are transferred from plane to plane by the airline

When you check in a bag at the airport, you hand it over to an airline check-in agent. They will weigh it, tag it with a label specifying destination, airline, flight number and passenger, and give you a receipt. The bag will then go through its own security check, where an X-ray machine or CT scanner will be used to check for dangerous or prohibited items. If there is any doubt about the contents of a suitcase, the police will open it for a visual inspection.

After check-in, your bag will travel along a network of conveyor belts that will place it in the right place for the tractors to transport it to its assigned flight. Once there, operators will place it in the hold of the plane. When your plane arrives at its destination, the luggage will move along the same route but in the opposite direction, until it reaches the baggage reclaim area.

If you have a connecting flight, the airline will handle transferring your checked bag from plane to plane. You don't have to pick it up at each layover.

Checked bags are screened at a security checkpoint

Once your bag has been checked, an agent will leave a note to let you know that it has been opened for inspection. It will then be placed on a conveyor belt system, which will take it to the right place for tractors to transport it to its assigned flight. Once there, operators will place it in the hold of the plane.

When your plane arrives at its destination, the luggage will move along the same route but in the opposite direction, until it reaches the baggage reclaim area. You won't see your checked bag until baggage claim at your final destination.

Checked bags are loaded onto carts which transport them to the plane

When you check in a bag at the airport, you hand it over to an airline check-in agent at the check-in counter. They will weigh it, tag it with a label specifying destination, airline, flight number and passenger, and give you a receipt. Checked bags go through their own X-ray machine in the backstage areas of the airport. If there is any doubt about the contents of a suitcase, the police will open it for a visual inspection. After check-in, your bag will travel along a network of conveyor belts that will place it in the right place for the tractors to transport it to its assigned flight. Once there, the operators will place it in the hold of the plane. Checked bags are loaded onto carts which transport them to the plane. This is done by airport ramp agents who control the baggage movement and ensure that your bags get on the right plane.

Frequently asked questions