Waiting at baggage reclaim can certainly test one’s patience, especially if your luggage emerges last while fellow travellers collect theirs and make for the exit. However, a certain technique could increase the chances of your bags coming out first.

An airport worker suggests leaving it late to check in, as this strategy often results in your cases being loaded last and consequently offloaded first upon arrival. Thomas Lo Sciuto, a ramp worker and gate agent at a regional US airport shared on Quora: “Your best option is to be one of the last passengers to check your bags. 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, which will make them the last on the aircraft, and the first off the aircraft at your destination.”

Furthermore, Thomas recommends gate-checking your bag to quicken its return to you. He explained: “The best way to ensure your bag gets to you the quickest is to ask the counter agent very nicely if they will let you gate-check your bag.

“The downside of that method is that you will not be able to pack liquids or any other items that cannot go in a carry-on bag, as you will need to bring the bag with you through the security checkpoint and to the gate.” 

The New York Post has revealed another trick for speedy luggage retrieval: obtaining a free “fragile” sticker from airport staff and attaching it to your bag.

They said: “Often the fragile tagged luggage goes into the plane last and as a result, it comes onto the belt first.

“But if you’re going to tag your luggage, make sure to leave one thing off – your address. Opportunistic thieves will know that you are not at home and could try to burgle the property as a result.”