One of the most common problems while flying with any airline operating in the aviation industry is losing or getting your bag damaged by the airline. If you are facing these issues, then let me tell you one thing: you are not the only person having the same issues at the airport. Missing, damaged, etc., are the common issues with the baggage. Then, how do you claim your baggage at the airport?
A baggage claim can be done without any hassle if you have enough knowledge about the process. Giving completely fine luggage but not receiving it in the same condition will give you a lot of stress and build an angry moment even if you are not short-tempered. This read will help you understand this no matter where you are!
The Baggage Blaim Area at Airport
The baggage claim area is designated at the airport, where the airline collects all the luggage after the flight. Passengers can retrieve their checked baggage after they landed the airport by simply heading towards the baggage claim area. If you are the one looking for your luggage or planning to travel in the future, then you are in the right place.
Once you reach the baggage claim facility, you can easily find your airline’s conveyor belt. Don’t worry; the airport provides proper navigation so that any passenger can directly visit the section in no time. Also, these areas are usually located near the arrivals hall section, where passengers can see their luggage on the moving belt.
Reasons for Baggage-Related Issues at Airport!
No matter which airline you use for the journey, almost every passenger carries checked luggage with them. A recent survey pointed out all the possible reasons for the damaged, missing luggage at the airport, for which the airline has to pay either through reimbursement or recovering it. A few studies show that the airline industry provides multiple recoveries, repairings, and reimbursements during a day for mishandled baggage and spends over $2.4 billion every single year. Some of the major common reasons for the issues are:
- Transfer mishandling – 46%
- Load Failure – 16%
- Ticketing Errors – 15%
- Bag Switch Error – 12%
- Airport/Weather/Customs/Other Issues – 11%
Baggage Claim Process
As soon as you landed the destination airport, you might see a rush to claim the luggage at the airport. But you don’t have to be a part of this. Instead, you can follow some basic instructions so that you can get your luggage without any hassle. To understand the baggage claim process easily, you have first to understand the the sequence of the process. Here it is:
- Arrival at the airport
This is the first step in which your flight lands at the airport, and you disembark from the aircraft safely. Make sure not to forget to keep your cabin luggage with you as most of the passengers usually leave their carry-on luggage under the seat or inside the overhead bin because of leaving the aircraft quickly.
- Head to the baggage claim area
Once you leave the aircraft, directly head towards the Baggage Claim Area, where you can find plenty of luggage claim facilities and a bunch of other airlines operating there with the same process. The airport navigations will help you reach the claim area without any hassle.
Identify your airline’s baggage conveyer belt!
Now, it’s time to identify your Airline’s Luggage Carousels or, we say, Conveyer Belts. Any luggage claim facility may have multiple conveyer belts, so it’s all up to you to find the right conveyor that your airline operates. Don’t feel stressed because you can easily find out which carousel is for which airline, as it is clearly visible on the screens installed at the airport which carousel is for which flight number.
Wait for the bags
Found your airline’s carousel? That’s great! Now, it’s time to wait and see your luggage coming out on the conveyer. It’s better to keep an eye on the carousel so that you can see your bags coming and retrieve them on time.
Retrieve the luggage
Once you see your bags rotating and moving on the carousel, be ready and stand alongside the conveyer belt as soon as it reaches you. Additionally, always remember to check the tag attached to the luggage first and then pick the bags to ensure that you are collecting the right luggage. Before leaving the place, make sure to check the luggage thoroughly for any major damage.
Take an exit
Got your luggage? Everything’s fine? Now, time to leave the airport! Once you collect all your bags and belongings, you can head towards the exit gate of the terminal after crossing the customs checks if applicable. You can easily find a bunch of rental cars and shuttle facilities to reach the final destination in no time.
Missing or Stolen Bag!
If in case, your bag is missing, damaged, or stolen somewhere at the airport, you will have to make a complaint at the same time before leaving the airport. The Lost & Found Counter is a dedicated place located throughout the airport where passengers can visit to lodge a complaint for missing luggage. This will help you find or get compensation for your luggage as quickly as possible. In order to find your luggage, it’s better to keep all the essential details about the stuff inside it, the color, size and brand of the bag, etc. All this information would help the airline’s staff to find the luggage in no time.
Final Thoughts!
At Airport, Baggage Claim facility plays an important role for any airline on many parameters. Most people prefer to travel with those airlines which provide the maximum facility of carrying checked luggage or have less problem of damage to it. In between all of this, How do you claim your baggage at the airport, is one of the most searchable questions on the internet among travelers.
We hope this read covers all the answers you were looking for and has cleared all your doubts. In case of any difficulty, you can directly reach out to the guest care staff of the airline, and make your journey memorable!
Frequently Asked Questions!
Once you cross your customs check & screening, you’ll be able to see your luggage coming on the conveyor belt. All you have to do is keep an eye on your bags and wait until they reach you, then pick up your baggage and check for the attached tag on to to ensure that you collected the right luggage.
In case you loose your luggage anywhere at the airport, visit the lost & found desk quickly. Now, provide all the detailed information along with the reference or tag number received at the time of check-in. In addition, giving other details like where you lost your bag, its color, size, etc., will help you get it in no time.
Whenever you’re at the baggage claim area, you’ll see a conveyor belt system or carousel rotating or moving to deliver the checked luggage to you.