There’s nothing worse than waiting at baggage claim while everyone else grabs their bags, the paranoia beginning to creep in that your bag has been lost. If you hate this feeling as much as I do, know that there’s a surprisingly simple trick that frequent flyers swear by, and it takes 2 seconds at check-in. Here’s how it works:
The time-saving baggage hack
When you check your bag at the counter, politely ask for a fragile tag — even if your luggage contains nothing breakable. Baggage handlers typically place fragile-tagged bags on top of the pile to prevent damage, which means they’re often among the first unloaded when the plane lands. It’s not foolproof, but travelers report it works more often than not.
Of course, the most reliable way to get priority treatment is flying first or business class, or having elite status with your airline’s frequent flyer program. These perks come with official priority tags that signal baggage handlers to load your bag strategically. But let’s be honest — not everyone has access to those luxuries. (Including yours truly.)
Lastly, if you’re only traveling with a carry-on, you could gate-check it, as gate-checked bags come out earlier, too. Though the fastest hack, naturally, is not to check a bag at all.
More strategies to save time at baggage claim
If you’re willing to take a slight risk, checking in as late as possible can also work in your favor. Bags checked closer to departure time are typically loaded last onto the plane, meaning they’re unloaded first at your destination. Just be careful not to miss your airline’s check-in deadline.
Other smart strategies include booking direct flights to minimize handling during layovers and flying through smaller airports where baggage processing tends to be faster than at major hubs.
The fragile tag trick won’t guarantee you’ll be first to the carousel, but it definitely improves your odds. And when you’re exhausted from traveling, those extra few minutes can make all the difference. Next time you’re checking a bag, give it a try — you might just breeze past the straggling baggage claim crowd. (And remember: With certain airlines, if getting your bag takes more than 20 minutes, you can ask for free miles.)