A baggage handler has revealed that certain types of suitcase are more likely to be 'tossed' about when being loaded onto an aeroplane.
Ramp agent Rachel Bacha, who posts viral content to TikTok with the screenname @rachel.bacha said that the key to not seeing your luggage thrown carelessly is by choosing a case with more wheels.
She shared the interesting insights as part of her viral internet series 'Everything you need to know about a suitcase coming from a luggage hander'.
The Express reports that taking to the TikTok, Rachel said: "Any time you are purchasing a suitcase, get a bag with four wheels for a couple of different reasons." The first reason is to ensure that your bag arrives at it's end destination safely and in a secure fashion - without being forcefully jolted along the cargo hold.
Wheels can help the process of loading bags far easier for handlers who work to strict and stringent deadlines, especially if luggage is heavier than normal. Rachel explained: "There are people loading your bags on the planes and some of the planes have really long cargo bins, and at some airports, they don't have a machine that takes all of the bags up into the bin to you.
"So there are two people, one throwing the bag and one stacking the bag. I hesitate to use the word throw but that is what it is called, we throw bags. Some of these aeroplanes have bins that are 20 feet long.
"Your bag has to start from here and go all the way back there...and the way it gets there is by being rolled, slid or tossed. What I'm saying is that if your bag has four wheels it is going to get rolled and if your bag had two wheels it's going to get tossed."
While most companies will have rules for bag handling procedures, employees sometimes have to exert more force than usual for get a bag loaded onboard. Rachel added that while she knows some people may not like the idea of their bag being tossed around, 'it's just how it is'.
She continued: "Now you know. Now you can be prepared. How do you expect your bag to get from one destination to another in the same amount of time that you do?"
As well as protecting your bag and assisting workers by making their jobs easier, a four-wheeled bag can also make the journey to and through the airport much smoother for holidaymakers also. Rachel continued: "[When] you are travelling and you get to the ticket counter and you've got so many things, you've got to get your boarding pass out and your ID out, a four-wheel bag is going to stand on its own.
"Moral of the story, a four-wheel bag is going to protect your bag and it's easier and it's more convenient."
The professional baggage handler recommends that people choose a hard shell case as opposed to soft shell, as this helps better protects the contents of your luggage. Passengers are also advised to take care with the possessions they bring with them - as fragile cargo can get damaged if not adequately protected.
Any delicate items should be wrapped snugly in packing materials, but it is also advised to wrap the finished parcel in your clothing to add an extra layer of support.
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