2023.02.10

[Airplane] How will my suitcase be transported after I have checked it in?

After leaving it at the counter, proceed to the sorting work area.

At the counter, a large amount of luggage is checked in for each flight, the number and weight of the suitcases are checked, and a tag issued for each departing flight is attached. Once the parcels have cleared the reception area, they are placed on a conveyor belt, inspected for any hazardous materials, and then headed to the sorting work area.

What is the system for sorting luggage correctly? Tags attached to luggage play an important role in operations where mistakes such as "the package has not arrived at its destination" cannot be tolerated.

Workers visually check the baggage tags and use machines to read the barcodes on the tags. Then, it is checked against the barcode on the checklist attached to the container, and if it matches, it is loaded into the container.

In order to make work as efficient as possible, workers sometimes change the orientation of packages they are not responsible for so that they can easily see the tags, to avoid mistakes.

Since the check is done visually, there is a high chance of lost baggage if barcodes pasted on the baggage remain, so we recommend that you remove any tags or stickers you used in the past as much as possible.

Loaded into a container and transported to the aircraft

The cargo that has been sorted by destination is loaded into containers by the hands of the workers, but even there, the workers do not just load the cargo, but handle the cargo with great care.

Basically, we load items from the flow, but there is a variety of items such as fragile items, items that must be handled with care, and heavy items. It seems that they are paying special attention to these items when loading them into the container space. It is extremely difficult to make instant decisions and carry out these tasks within a limited amount of time, without creating extra gaps in the container, and also to keep the cargo in a stable condition.

Once these workers have completed the perfect loading process, the cargo is then handed over to the transportation staff.

Containers filled with lots of cargo are placed on special trolleys, and several trolleys are connected together. The vehicle will then be towed to the plane. When the container arrives at the bottom of the plane, the container is loaded onto the aircraft using a lift.

The luggage stored in the aircraft waits for departure. The cargo is loaded using a variety of machines and vehicles, helping to maintain the balance of the aircraft, allowing us and our cargo to safely reach our destinations.

After arriving, the luggage is unloaded and loaded onto a conveyor belt and returned.

After arriving at the destination, the container cargo is removed from the aircraft and transported to a conveyor belt. This is a conveyor belt that is directly connected to the baggage claim area. Staff members look at the situation and decide which flight's baggage should go into which lane.

Based on this judgment, the cargo is routed to the designated lane. Unlike when departing, there is no safety inspection or sorting, so the cargo can be moved very smoothly, but even in that short time, the consideration of the workers shines through. The handles of the suitcases are angled outward so that passengers can easily reach their luggage.

In addition, due to the care of the workers who treat each item with care as if it were an important piece of luggage, damage to luggage on domestic flights is rare. I think a little damage is inevitable.
In this way, each passenger picks up the luggage that flows on the conveyor belt, but if the suitcases are similar, mistakes may occur. Despite warnings, such mistakes are still common.

Many people use stickers or belts to help mark the destination, but when you pick up your luggage, be sure to check that the number on the tag you received at the departure point matches the number on the tag on your luggage. Sho.

May vary depending on airline and aircraft

I wrote that it is rare for luggage to be damaged on domestic flights, but there may be cases where it happens unexpectedly. Work flow and methods may differ depending on the airline or aircraft. Especially when traveling overseas, you need to be even more careful.

The last thing you want is your precious suitcase and its contents to get damaged. If you are worried, you can leave your luggage with peace of mind by taking all possible precautions. Pack fragile and important items securely, and place soft materials such as towels and clothes around them.

Also, be careful with liquids. I don't know in what direction the baggage will be transported. The bag must be tightly sealed to prevent liquid from leaking. Your suitcase may be opened if it contains prohibited or suspicious items. It is also important to check whether you can deposit the money yourself so that you do not have it confiscated or run into trouble.

Prohibited items are different for carry-on baggage and checked baggage, so it is important to check the details. By the way, speaking from experience, be careful about the band that you attach to your suitcase to mark your suitcase, as if you don't put it on tightly, it can get lost while being carried.

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