This Airline Upgrade May Help You Claim Your Luggage Faster After Your Flight

If you're a regular flyer, you likely agree that traveling by air often involves a lot waiting and moving around than, say, if you were taking a road trip. As if enduring security and customs checks wasn't enough, there's also having to navigate crowded terminals and deal with staying squeezed into your seat for hours. 

And after all that waiting during the journey, you still need to stand at the baggage claim hoping your bags will finally appear — with nothing to suggest they'll arrive on time. But don't worry, there's actually a secret to claiming your luggage faster: upgrading to a premium cabin, or attaining a frequent-flyer status. 

While upgrading is the easiest trick to ensure your luggage arrives on time, seasoned travelers also know a few other tricks to ensure their bag comes off luggage claim first. In some cases, something as simple as knowing how early to arrive at the airport can significantly increase your chances of getting your bags on time. Now, imagine combining perfect timing with the right cabin upgrade — your suitcase is much more likely to come off the carousel earlier than anticipated.

While there's no sure way to make you the first to collect your luggage at the carousel, one of the easiest ways to get your bags before anyone else is to upgrade your ticket from economy to either business or first class. If you're not sure which upgrade might be the best choice for your travel needs, checking out a guide to all airline classes will help you better understand their perks. 

According to travel experts, passengers with premium cabin tickets often get their bags first because airlines mark their bags with a dedicated "priority" tag. This, in turn, communicates one important thing to bag handlers: separate this customer's luggage from the other customers' luggage. That way, your suitcase is likely to come out first. 

Alternatively, you can also try to attain an elite frequent-flyer status with your desired airline. Doing this will also help catapult your luggage into the "priority" list, ensuring they come out faster. What's more, it's a simple thing to do that doesn't require making any extra effort at baggage claim. Just stand where the first bags are likely to appear, and you'll save yourself needless waiting.