Airport: How long does the baggage claim take
On the first flight alone or with children, things can often get chaotic. A particular sticking point: the baggage claim. How long does it take and what do you need to watch out for? What dangers lurk at the baggage carousel? We answer these questions for you here.
How does baggage claim work at the airport?
Here is the typical process to get your luggage: You get off the plane, check the displays to see which carousel your luggage will arrive on, head to your luggage, and wait at the carousel for your suitcase to pass by. Usually, the suitcase arrives quite promptly, so you don't have to spend much time at the baggage carousel.
You don't control which suitcases appear first on the carousel. Different airlines use different methods to load and unload the plane. Most holiday flights use the last in, first out method. This means the suitcase loaded last into the plane appears first on the baggage carousel. Other airlines use containers to store luggage, which are then loaded onto the plane. With this method, you cannot predict exactly when your suitcase will pass by.
Other airlines use apps that allow you to track your baggage. This not only greatly increases safety but also lets you accurately estimate when your suitcase is on its way to you.
How long does baggage claim take?
How long baggage claim takes is hard to generalize. Times vary greatly depending on the airport, airline, and time of day.
4 safety tips at the baggage carousel for traveling with children
- Keep children close: Since the baggage hall is very confusing and many people stand together, always keep your children close to you.
- Danger zone warning: Suitcases are lifted very quickly from the baggage carousel. Small, running-around children can easily be overlooked. Therefore, children should not be closer than one meter to the baggage carousel. The same applies to running and playing near the baggage carousel.
- Do not stand on the baggage carousel and do not sit on the baggage carousel: The same applies to adults and children: A stationary baggage carousel can suddenly start, and if you don't get off in time, there is a risk to life!
- Don't wait in the crowd: The baggage carousel is long and most passengers wait at the beginning, so you get your suitcase as quickly as possible. It's best to stand with your children at the back part of the carousel. It takes a little longer for your own suitcase to pass by, but the overall situation is much clearer.