Travel advice: 7 things you should never do at a baggage carousel

Travel is back in full swing but it seems travel etiquette has been forgotten. Here’s a refresher on what is and is not acceptable when waiting for your luggage at an airport.

I recently spent 50 minutes waiting for my luggage to emerge at a baggage carousel at an international airport.

After 24 hours in transit, my patience was growing thin with each passing minute, but the wait wasn’t what was bothering me (I was in holiday mode and had nowhere to be in a hurry).

It was my fellow passengers. Many of us probably haven’t travelled much since ‘the virus that shall not be named’ and may be a little rusty when it comes to airport etiquette.

But, surely, common courtesy is not something that we’d forgotten?

While I watched people push, shove, drop bags on other travellers toes, I thought there is no better time for a refresher on what is and is not acceptable when waiting for your luggage at baggage claim.

Airport baggage carousels are busy at all times of the year. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

So, for the sake of travellers everywhere, here are the 7 things you should never do at a baggage carousel.

Do not stand right next to the carousel

I thought this was an obvious one. Can confirm: it is not.

Standing right next to the carousel obstructs everyone else’s view of the conveyor belt so not only are they unable to see if their luggage is coming out, when it does they have to push past a sea of people to get their bag.

Travellers should follow some simple rules at the baggage carousel.

Stand back, and when you see your bag make your way to the edge of the carousel. Simple and way less claustrophobic for everyone involved.

Do not bring your trolley to the carousel

Ah, the beauty of modern luggage is that it is impressively ergonomic. Most bags have four wheels that mean you can move your luggage around with little effort.

So, please, for the love of travel, do not take the airport luggage trolley with you to the edge of the carousel.

Keep your baggage trolleys away from the baggage carousels. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

If you have multiple bags, simply grab your luggage off the conveyor belt and take it to a trolley that is conveniently placed a few metres away.

The amount of rouge trolleys I saw roll into people waiting as someone tried to put their luggage on it without applying the brake was terrifying.

You need travel insurance specifically for standing near a baggage carousel.

Do not let your kids grab the luggage if they’re unable to lift it

OK, as a parent myself, I’m all for encouraging kids to be independent and responsible for their own belongings. But if they’re not strong enough to lift a suitcase do not let them try.

Kids are resilient things and rather than let a bag that is too heavy go past them they will most likely hold on to the handle as it makes its way down the carousel and like a bowling ball to pins will take out other passengers waiting for their bags.

Also, this should go without saying, but baggage carousels are not toys. Do not let kids play on them.

Do not lift a bag off the carousel before checking the luggage tag

I’m a firm believer in choosing coloured luggage over black. While it may get a few more visible scuffs you won’t have to try to differentiate which is yours from another 50 that look exactly the same.

Make sure you check tags before picking up the luggage.

And it’s for this reason I beg of you, if you’re unsure if the bag is yours or not check if the luggage tag has your name on it before lifting a bag off of the carousel.

So many people are quick to remove the bag off the carousel, only to have to struggle to find a spot to put it back on. Save yourself the time and effort and just check the baggage tag.

Do not run for your bag

The beauty of most carousels is that they are long and often in an ‘S’ shape. So, if you miss your bag, simply walk over to the next apex and it will make its way over to you. Too easy.

There’s no need to push your way through crowds of people to save a minute of your time. And if you miss it all together, guess what? It will come back around. Mind. Blown.

Travellers should adhere to some common sense rules at the airport.

Do not crowd together as a family right next to the carousel

Work smarter, not harder people. The strongest person at the carousel, one person that wheels the bag from the carousel to the others waiting with the luggage trolley a few metres. Simple.

Everyone crowded around the edge of the carousel handling multiple bags is a disaster waiting to happen.

Do not wait directly where the luggage emerges from

There is nothing more obnoxious than a person who deems themselves more important that they stand directly where the luggage exits as if they deserve to get their luggage before everyone else.

News flash: you can stand there and your luggage may still be the last to come out. You will not get your luggage any sooner by standing at the start of the conveyor belt, but you will definitely be the most annoying person in the room.

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Originally published as Travel advice: 7 things you should never do at a baggage carousel