Baggage handler reveals which type of suitcase is least likely to be tossed around

Suitcases on a luggage belt
-Credit: (Image: Getty)


Imagine this - you're embarking on the holiday of your dreams. You've navigated through security at your dream destination and are eagerly awaiting your luggage on the airport carousel.

As your bag comes into view, it's clear it's been mishandled. It's dented, perhaps the zip is broken, and you have a sinking feeling that any fragile items inside will be irreparably damaged.

This scenario is a traveller's worst nightmare, but thankfully, there are measures you can take to prevent your luggage from being roughly handled by baggage workers.

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A baggage handler took to Reddit, offering to answer questions about their profession, reports the Express. The solution is straightforward - it's all about the wheels. If your suitcase has at least two, ideally four functioning wheels, handlers can roll it into the hold, ensuring the safety of your belongings.

Without wheels, your bag will likely need to be thrown into the hold, increasing the risk of damage. The baggage handler revealed that their "absolute least favourite" bags to load were those with jammed wheels.

The airport employee added: "We try to roll it down, but it just falls over after moving six inches." To protect your possessions from harm, they suggest investing in a high-quality bag with four operational wheels, a soft interior lining, and a hard outer shell to cushion your belongings.

The handler confessed that fragile stickers do little to safeguard your luggage and it even entices some staff to handle them more roughly. "Some of us are tempted to treat them worse, but we never do. Having a fragile tag doesn't really make a difference," he clarified.

Regarding how far your bags can get thrown if they lack wheels, the baggage handler revealed the furthest distance they had seen was "about five metres or so".

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