Just because you got off the plane quickly doesn’t mean your bag did.

Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan

Even if you manage to get off your flight quickly, that doesn’t mean your luggage will be awaiting you at baggage claim.

There is a lot that happens between the time your bag leaves the plane and the moment you grab it off the carousel. Generally, bags are pre-sorted into two groups — transferring bags and terminating bags — when they are retrieved from the plane. Terminating bags are loaded into carts and taken to the baggage claim area where they are moved onto a conveyor belt that transports them to the appropriate carousel. Of course, there are various factors influencing this process, including airport size and passenger numbers. Consequently, there are ample opportunities for delays.

The next time you consider giving in to premature lost luggage anxiety, consider some common reasons your bag could be delayed.

1. Electrical Storms

Weather is one of the primary reasons your baggage may take extra time to reach the claim area. When lightning or any severe weather occurs, ground crews are required to take shelter for safety reasons. Consequently, this leads to delays in retrieving your luggage and bringing it indoors.

2. Airport Size

Just as walking through a larger airport takes longer, your luggage also requires additional time to travel from the plane to baggage claim. Therefore, smaller airports may offer quicker baggage retrieval.

3. Passenger Capacity

If your flight was at full capacity, there are likely more bags to transport across the airport. Conversely, if you experienced a mostly empty flight, your bag was probably removed from the plane more swiftly.

On larger flights, checking in as early as possible can potentially reduce your waiting time. Most airlines follow a first-on, first-off protocol for luggage, so getting ahead of the queue may help you collect your bag sooner.

4. State of the Airport

While many airports have optimized their baggage handling processes with a series of security checks, conveyor systems, and even advanced technology like robots, some lesser-trafficked airports still rely on rudimentary methods. Therefore, keep this in mind when traveling to remote areas with airports that have limited technology.