3 Ways to Have Your Luggage Arrive First at Baggage Claim

All travelers dread a lengthy wait at baggage claim. Whether you’re returning home after a long trip, trying to make a tight international connection, or feeling excited about your upcoming vacation, getting your luggage back quickly is a top priority. While some airlines get bags to the belt faster than others, there are 3 ways to ensure your bag is one of the first to appear.

Be loyal or fly first class

Loyalty to an airline means eventual status, and status comes with certain perks. One of these perks is typically the prioritized handling of your checked luggage.
When you have this benefit, the airline staff will add a bright-colored tag to your bag during check-in. This tag draws the attention of the baggage handlers so they can ensure your bag will be among the first to hit the baggage carousel.

The status you need to receive this benefit is likely more accessible than you think. On United Airlines, for example, status can be reached in as few as 6 round-trip flights, plus the accumulation of qualifying loyalty points, which a credit card could help you obtain.

If you plan to fly fewer than 12 segments, you're still in luck. Priority bag handling is a perk also given to passengers ticketed in first class, regardless of status level.

Unfortunately, priority baggage handling cannot be purchased outright. While you can buy into Premier Access, which includes other perks like priority boarding and check-in, priority bag handling is not included.

Fly regional carriers

If your luggage is gate-checked, you will likely get it back sooner than those heading to baggage claim. When the airline takes your bag at the gate because space has run out in the overhead bins or because, on some planes—like United's Embraer jets—the bins are too small for roller bags, you'll be able to collect your bag right by the plane without a trip to baggage claim.

Note that this is only true for bags checked at the gate by regional carriers—think of United Express flights that Republic Airways operates. Passengers on such flights have their gate-checked bags returned on the jet bridge instead of at baggage claim. If you're flying on a mainline United flight, American flight, or Delta flight, even gate-checked bags are sent to the baggage carousel at your final destination and may come out in any order.

Other ideas

Other methods travelers have tried to get their luggage to come out just behind the priority ones include being among the last to check in, or checking your bag at the gate instead of at the departure counter. However, these methods are not guaranteed, as non-priority bags can be loaded onto the plane in any order.