Holiday season is officially here as many prepare to head off on their long awaited summer trip.
Despite all the excitement, travelling to get there can actually be pretty stressful - whether you are worried about remembering all the required documents or panicking about getting through security. The anxiety can continue when arriving at the other side as you wait patiently for your suitcase to come off the plane.
But there may be a way to rid you of that concern, with an expert urging travellers to simple a set of simple steps to ensure luggage is the first off the carousel after landing.
While it may seem natural to arrive at the airport in plenty of time to make sure you are through security well before your gate is called with time for a wee drink of two, the experts suggest arriving as late as possible to the check-in desk.
Checking in last, in theory, will mean that your bags are loaded onto the plane last, which should also mean they make their way off the flight and onto the carousel first, Escape.com shared.
Ramp worker and gate agent at a regional airport in the US told Quora: "Bags will always be loaded front to back on the bag carts so if you check in last your bags will be in the last bag cart."
The strategy, however, has been branded "high-risk" with many no doubt feeling panicked by the thought of cutting it short when it comes to arriving in time for a flight.
Fortunately, there is another, less-stressful, option which is to "gate check" your bag. This means handing over luggage at check-in to put in the cargo hold, but it typically sees bags left beside the access doors ready for quick unloading at touch down.
However, this option may mean the requirement of extra security measures as well as potential extra charges. But it will guarantee your cases will be freed first at the other end.
Some airlines also provide an option to pay extra in order to get your luggage first, especially if you are travelling business class or are signed up to an airline loyalty scheme. This will sometimes even mean that your cases are placed on a separate luggage carousel.
According to news.com.au, asking for a "fragile" sticker for your luggage could also help speed things up. The sticker will impact the order in which bags are stacked on the plane, meaning it may mean your case is dealt with first when you land as bags tagged as fragile will be loaded in last.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our newsletter here.
