drewp43

Is someone able to explain the process of the actual baggage check in when you arrive at the airport? I have a meeting tomorrow and am going to be cutting it close on making my flight so I was hoping to send a friend to check my bag in for me so I can get through the airport faster. Is this possible? Can you explain why or why not?

tampatravel

wrp96

Often1

A one word answer, "no". The two word answer is "absolutely not".

Make sure you check the deadlines for baggage at the airport from which you depart. The deadline means being at the counter, not in line.

QueenOfCoach

They don't want a passenger to check a bag, then not fly on that airplane. That would be an obvious way for a non-suicidal bomber to operate.

Lots of people rely on carry-on luggage, only, so they can get through the airport faster. Also note, AA like other airlines has a checked bag cut-off time. I believe it is 45 minutes before a scheduled domestic departure.

drewp43

So you are saying they don't scan my bag after a check it? At all. That can't be true

drewp43

Such as? Dont they scan your bag after you check it anyway?

FlyerWx

What do you mean by scan? The bags are scanned at various points as part of the bag tracking process.

aztimm

I've never done it, but if you print off a luggage tag at a kiosk, do they check ID when you turn your bag in?

wetrat0

Yes, they do.

seigex

Yeah, they should be checking your ID, your boarding pass and verifying your destination.

wetrat0

It's not possible. And, I can explain why it's not possible: because they won't let you do it.

As for the procedure, it depends on which airport. Assuming no status, economy passenger, at most airports you would be required to check in at a kiosk. The bag tag will either print at the kiosk or at an agent. Then you bring your bags to a "bag drop" agent, who weighs the bag, checks your ID, and puts on the bag. At some stations there are no kiosks and you would have to wait in line to check in with an agent. If you have status or are in F/J, you can check in at the first class line that exists at some airports. This may save you a little bit of time but not always (often, only one agent is working this line). Bottom line, one way or another you need to be standing in front of the agent with your bag tag printed out (by you or the agent) *before* the cut off.

If you think you might miss your flight by less than 2 hours, search this forum for "Flat tire rule" and read that thread.

seigex

Such as someone else adding something that could be dangerous to the flight or contraband (ie drugs/explosives/customs violations) to your bag without your knowledge. Electronic screening of bags doesn't pick up everything, and TSA doesn't manually screen all checked bags. For me, I get about 25% of my checked bags screened (you get a paper inside saying TSA inspected your bag).

Often1

TSA has screened 100% of all checked luggage since early in 2003. That is 16 years ago.

Does that mean that every bag is opened and searched? No. Same as with carry-on. Bags are searched when the 100% scanning indicates a reason to search and in addition, a random sampling is also searched.

enviroian

I never fail to be amazed sometimes.