When planning a trip, every person wants his flight to go smoothly and not be marred by unpleasant surprises. That is why, before departure, passengers are advised to familiarize themselves with the pre-flight inspection procedure at the airport, as well as the list of things that can and cannot be brought on board the plane.
Search at the airport entrance
To ensure safety during the flight, there are several levels of security checks. hand luggage and passengers' luggage. The first search of personal belongings is carried out at the entrance to the airport.
Every person entering the airport building, regardless of whether it is a passenger or a mourner, must pass through a special stationary metal detector. First you need to take off your belt, put out your money, phone, keys and check that there are no other metal items left in your pockets. Additionally, security staff check everyone using a portable metal detector.
Security screening at the airport
Suitcases, bags and hand luggage must be placed on a special X-ray scanner belt. While the baggage moves along the belt, employees examine its contents. Since luggage is checked at the airport very carefully, questions may arise regarding suspicious items. In this case, the owner will be asked to open the suitcase and show the questionable item.
Please remember that you cannot carry the following items on an airplane, even in the luggage compartment:
- flammable and explosive substances;
- any substances that emit radiation;
- signaling devices;
- any types of gases;
- poisonous and toxic substances, bacteria and viruses;
- corrosive substances;
- oxidizing agents;
- firearms and any imitators thereof, including children's toys in the form of pistols;
- ammunition, flares, bullets, firecrackers.
Search at the entrance
With special permission, passengers have the opportunity to take with them hunting rifles, firearms, checkers, swords, sabers, and gas cartridges. All these items are stored on board the aircraft in compartments to which access is restricted. To transport weapons, a person must have the right to store and carry them, and to fly to international flights You must have an international permit. Failure to do so entails not only the confiscation of weapons, but also the imposition of an administrative fine.
Weapons of any type must be unloaded and packed in special cases. Before going through control, you must warn the airport security staff that you are going to transport weapons and present all the necessary documents.
Important! Each country has its own requirements for the transportation of weapons and other dangerous goods. It is best to clarify any details you are in doubt about at a specific airport or with airline representatives.
Baggage inspection at the airport entrance is usually quick. At large airports such as Dubai International Airport, queues are not created due to large quantity check points.
Baggage check after check-in
After passengers have entered the airport building, they proceed to the check-in counter for their flight. Here the luggage is weighed, a special sticker is hung on it, and then the suitcases are driven away along a special belt. Many people think that this ends the procedure for checking it at the airport and the bags are immediately loaded onto the plane, but this is not at all true.
After check-in, your luggage goes through another check. All bags are scanned and if any suspicious items are found they will be searched manually. In this case, another sticker will appear on the suitcase, indicating that the baggage was subject to additional inspection.
Baggage inspection
In some countries, when checking luggage, they use not only airport inspection equipment, but also specially trained dogs. In particular, a canine service has been created at Domodedovo Airport in Moscow. Animals are looking for explosives and narcotic substances and foodstuffs prohibited for transportation on planes.
Pre-flight security and hand baggage screening
After checking in for the flight, passengers go to the pre-flight inspection area. Here, a thorough check of hand luggage and personal belongings of departing passengers is carried out. Screening at the airport at this stage is mandatory throughout the world and is intended to prevent items that could be used for a terrorist act from getting on board aircraft.
All personal items, including hand luggage, are placed in a special basket and sent along a moving belt for thorough scanning by an X-ray machine. Outerwear and hats, belts, watches, jewelry, and mobile phones must be placed separately on the tape.
On a note! Most airports require you to take off your shoes, but according to new rules in Russia you are allowed not to take off your shoes if the height of the heel does not exceed 2.5 centimeters and its thickness is less than 1 centimeter.
While one of the security officers will scan things, the second will monitor how the passenger passes through the metal detector. In some cases, tactile inspection is additionally performed. It must be carried out by a person of the same sex as the person being searched. This procedure is carried out since the metal detector technically will not be able to detect weapons whose body is made of plastic or ceramics, and will also not detect glass capsules with narcotic and explosive substances.
Pre-flight inspection area.
Particular attention should be paid to how hand luggage is checked at the airport. First of all, you need to make sure that there are no prohibited items in your hand luggage, namely:
- sharp and cutting objects, including nail scissors, tweezers, nail files, corkscrews, knitting needles, etc.;
- any liquids, as well as empty containers that can be filled with liquid with a volume of more than 100 milliliters (total volume no more than 1 liter);
- explosive substances, poisons, chemicals, radioactive and flammable substances;
- aerosols, spray cans, lighters;
- magnetic objects.
Important! Airlines have the right to make additions and adjustments to the rules for the carriage of hand luggage. It is better to check with your air carrier about the possibility of transporting a particular item.
Passengers have the right to take with them into the cabin:
- mobile phone, laptop, camera or camera;
- documents and book;
- goods purchased at Duty Free;
- 1 bouquet of flowers;
- outerwear;
- umbrella or cane;
- equipment necessary for the movement of people with disabilities (crutches, stretchers, wheelchairs);
- diapers and a baby's portable cradle;
- baby food in any quantity.
Remember that you will have to say goodbye to items of hand luggage that do not pass pre-flight inspection forever. Otherwise, you risk being kicked off the flight. It will not be possible to pick them up even after the flight.
X-ray scanner.
Hand luggage
Allowed dimensions of hand luggage are 55x40x20 cm, maximum weight from 5 to 10 kilograms. However, as a rule, these parameters are not measured during inspection. When checking in for a flight, an employee will tell you whether your bag is suitable for transportation in the cabin or should be checked in as checked baggage. A baby stroller is not included in hand luggage, but it can be checked in directly at the airport before boarding the plane. When collecting luggage, the stroller is given first priority.
Thus, when preparing to fly, be prepared to undergo a personal search, baggage and hand luggage checks. You must make sure in advance that there are no prohibited items among your personal belongings. If you have any questions, you should check with your air carrier or by calling your departure airport. If you need to transport dangerous goods, prepare all the necessary documents. And most importantly, remember that all procedures for pre-flight inspections of belongings and passengers at the airport are aimed at ensuring safety during the flight. That is why you should be understanding of all prohibitions and precautions.
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Useful information for travelers from tochka.net
© DepositphotosBy following a few important rules, tourists can keep their luggage safe while traveling.
- Do not unnecessarily carry expensive items in your luggage that are difficult or impossible to repair. It is better to keep any valuables: documents, cash and jewelry with you and not check them in as luggage.
- Before packing your suitcase, check all the clasps and locks of your bag to see if they were broken on a previous trip. Even if the bag's clasps and clasps are in good condition, a tightly packed suitcase can rip during transport from the terminal to the plane.
- Be sure to make a list of the items packed in each bag.
- A personal tag placed in a special transparent window of the suitcase (if there is one) can help identify your luggage. Or make a bright inscription on your suitcase.
- Before checking in your luggage, be sure to pack it in transparent film. This can be done both at the airport and at home using cling film or tape. Everyone decides for themselves whether they need film packaging or not. Here are some convincing reviews from passengers regarding the advisability of using film.
- Take your time when checking your luggage and make sure the airline tag affixed to your suitcase accurately identifies your trip's final destination. This will save your luggage from being unloaded early or stopped midway during transit flights and connecting flights.
- Please ensure that you receive the UPC barcoded receipt stubs upon checking your baggage. Today from electronic tickets they are easy to forget.
- Write your name, phone number, city and country on your suitcases. If your luggage is lost, this can speed up the search process.
The main rule- did not find your luggage upon arrival - do not leave the airport until you complete the documents! Fill out all the information about your luggage in special forms. Be attentive to details. Write down a phone number where you can call for information about search results.
Packing luggage for a plane is one of the most important procedures that are performed during travel. This seemingly simple task is quite difficult to cope with on your own, and therefore many tourists use paid suitcase packing services provided at almost every airport. With properly collected and packed luggage, the inspection procedure for items is significantly simplified(as well as transportation), moreover, this measure protects against theft - an unprotected bag is easier to open to get valuables out of it. How to pack luggage on a plane yourself? Today you will learn about it!
On a note! Packing rules may vary slightly depending on the specific airport. For example, it is not necessary to wrap hard, reliable suitcases with a combination lock, since they are almost impossible to break into or damage. As for soft bags, they need to be packed, but open bags are not accepted as luggage at all.
Why do you need to pack luggage?
Your luggage will only be allowed into check-in if it is tightly wrapped and there is no doubt that it could be damaged during loading/transport. Even fully compliant hard frame luggage bags are recommended to be packed, and there are several reasons for this.
Note! Try not to fill your bag to the brim with things! Loaders do not handle luggage very carefully; if there is a strong impact or pressure, the clasp may fail, resulting in all the contents ending up on the floor.
How much does paid packaging cost?
This question is of interest to those who do not have the desire or time to do their own packaging. Each airport has special packaging machines, which are usually located at the entrance or check-in counters. There are also check scales with which you can check. Sometimes the weighing service is provided free of charge, but often you still have to pay for it (about 50 rubles), but automatic scales work for about half a minute, so you can find out the weight of three or four bags at a time.
On a note! Additionally, bags can be weighed at check-in counters that are unoccupied by staff.
You can pack your luggage yourself or with the help of local employees - they will give all the necessary recommendations. Wrapping instructions are available at the packing racks, as are all required materials.
What is the specific cost of packing luggage in the capital?
- Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo. Here, for one bag weighing less than 32 kg you will have to pay about 350-500 rubles, and if over 32 kg - about 700.
- Domodedovo. In this case, it all depends on the specific airline. For example, Aeroflot clients can pay bonus miles(2,200 units) if you contact PACK&FLY. Customers of other airlines need to pay 500-600 rubles per bag, while the packing process itself will take no more than 2 minutes.
In Domodedovo, packaging counters operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to PACK&FLY, similar services are also provided by other companies - VEX UPAK, Truestar. But the first one is still more popular, because it provides various discounts, packs the luggage of WWII veterans for free, sells special burglary protection and gives many other pleasant bonuses.
Self-packing luggage - important nuances
If you want to save money, you can try to do everything yourself. To do this, you will have to buy all the required materials and follow some simple rules. Wrapping bags can be done using tape and cling film (it is sold in all household chemical stores).
But before that, you need to put things together correctly. How to do it?
Master Class. Packing for a flight
If you pack your things correctly, your bags will not be stuffed to the brim, and fragile items will not be damaged. To do this, simply follow the instructions.
Step 1. See how long the flight will last. The list of things you take with you will depend on the purpose, and their quantity will depend on the duration.
Step 2. Take the essentials - clothes, shoes, underwear. Give preference to interchangeable items to reduce their quantity. For example, you can wear a smart or casual blouse with jeans, while choosing a top to match a bright pink skirt will pose certain difficulties. Choose accessories to spice up your outfit - a scarf will be a great decoration, but it will take up little space.
Step 3. Check the documents. To board the plane you will need a passport. Also take a bank card, but you don’t need to take “everything”!
Step 4. Flight information should be kept in an easily accessible pocket of your bag/suitcase. This measure will be especially useful if it takes place at a self-service counter (they have become increasingly popular in recent years).
Step 5. It is not recommended to take a lot of shoes. Two pairs are enough, regardless of how long the trip lasts. The shoes themselves are heavy and take up a lot of space, so take one pair for every day and one for going out. You can save even more space by wearing one of these pairs at the airport.
Step 6. Should you bring toiletries with you? Deodorants and toothpastes are sold everywhere.
Step 7 Take the minimum of everything.
Step 8 Don't forget to take a first aid kit with painkillers and essential medications.
Important! The main rule is to take an item if you use it more than three times. In addition, it is better to take all valuables in hand luggage (the fact is that luggage can get lost).
Now that all things are collected, we can talk directly about packaging. There are several ways, let's look at each of them in more detail.
Types of films for luggage packaging:
| Film type | Photo | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Luggage stretch film |  | Protect your luggage and prevent scratches and dirt. Film characteristics: width: 250 m, length: 30 m, thickness: 20 microns |
| Film for self-packing luggage |  | The versatility of this film lies in packaging things in everyday life (including books, baseboards, curtains, linoleum during transportation, wheels, etc.). Possibility to choose color |
| Stretch film |  | This is an excellent film made from low density polyethylene. It is used to wrap various objects during transportation and long-term storage. This material stretches up to 330% of its original size |
| Cling film |  | Cling film is indispensable for packaging and storing any products. At the same time, it retains freshness, aroma and vitamins. Protects products from drying out and losing moisture |
Beautiful and bright stretch covers can be of different sizes and have various interesting patterns. A very convenient method, at least when compared with the one described below (you don’t have to bother with cling film every time). In addition, such cases look much more attractive.
Cling film
Table. Instructions for packing luggage.
| Steps, photo | Description of actions |
|---|---|
| Press the free edge of the film and begin applying the first layer. |
| Making an effort, make a full turn with your other hand - this way the film will stick tightly to the walls of the suitcase or bag. |
| While wrapping, be careful not to create wrinkles. |
| The roll of cling film should be in this position. Make at least five to ten wraps along the entire length of the bag/suitcase. |
| Feel free to wrap everything up. To ensure better protection, it is recommended to wrap not only the body, but also the legs and handle. |
| Cut a hole for the handle so you can use it easily. |
| Also remove the cling film from the wheels. It is recommended to reinforce the holes with adhesive tape to prevent damage to the film during transportation or at the airport. |
| All. Parts that are necessary for normal operation are exempt. |
| Finally, check the wheels and handles for functionality. |
Note! Luggage wrapped in cling film is outwardly distinguished from the rest by its transparency. The fact is that the polyethylene used at airports is denser and therefore not transparent. However, you can place a piece of paper with contact information under the top layer of packing material to mark your suitcase. This will also help you find it if your luggage gets lost.
Video - How to pack suitcases at the airport
Special belts
Let's take a look at another device - special straps for suitcases. But, as it seems to us, they are only suitable for protecting against accidental opening of the suitcase during transportation. Belts certainly won’t protect you from break-ins and contamination.
Another advantage of the straps is that if they are cut to get into the suitcase, you will know about it as soon as you receive your luggage at the airport. And this is very important.
What to do if the suitcase is damaged?
Baggage is damaged - what to do?
If you notice obvious signs of tampering on your luggage or the bag was damaged during transportation due to the fault of airport employees, you may well demand compensation. To do this, follow the following algorithm.
- Immediately after discovery, it is necessary to record the fact that the luggage was opened.
- Next, you need to provide data on your luggage (these may be special tags, boarding passes And so on).
- The next stage is to search for a representative office (it must be at the airport) or employees of the airline that made the flight.
- After this, a claim form is filled out, detailed personal data and the required payment amount are indicated.
- Once stamps have been applied, copies of all paperwork left with airline employees should be made.
Now all you have to do is wait for representatives of the carrier company to call you back. As for the amount of compensation, it is usually about 10 US dollars per 1 kg of luggage weight.
In summary, we note that where exactly you will pack your bags - at the airport or at home - depends on your financial situation and skills. If you know for sure that you can wrap your suitcase correctly, you can save a little on this. However, airport packers using special machines can ensure the safety and effective protection of luggage, so this option is more reliable. Albeit more expensive.
Video – Luggage packaging equipment
This article was produced by our experienced team of editors and researchers, who reviewed it for accuracy and completeness.
Number of sources used in this article: . You will find a list of them at the bottom of the page.
Going through security at the airport can take a long time, especially if your suitcase is cluttered or improperly packed. To avoid baggage inspections and get things done as quickly as possible, think carefully about what you do and don't need to do. When folding your suitcase, place items that are less likely to be searched on the bottom, and place laptops and liquids on top. Buying a good suitcase will also help speed up the inspection process.
Steps
We take the necessary things
- Clothes, personal hygiene items and souvenirs can be packed in a suitcase.
- Put books in your suitcase if you don't plan to read them on the plane.
- Electronic devices such as cameras and laptops, as well as valuables such as jewelry, should always be taken in hand luggage.
-
Take only the essentials with you. Your carry-on luggage should contain only the most necessary items. If you have too many items, the security guards will not be able to use the X-ray to its full potential and will likely stop you to search you. Things you may need::
- telephone
- laptop/tablet
- camera
- charging device
- a magazine or book to read on the plane
- medicines
- food or milk for a small child
- an extra set of clothes in case your luggage gets lost
-
Lay out what you will be packing. Before packing your items into your carry-on luggage, lay out everything you plan to take with you. You can do this on the bed, as well as on the desk or dining table. This will help you determine if you are taking too much with you. It will also allow you to organize your items in the most efficient manner and help you find out if you forgot anything.
- When arranging things, try to place similar items next to each other. For example, put all your clothes in one pile and place chargers with matching electronics.
- Make sure you take your national passport, international passport(For international travel) and tickets.
-
Double check that you do not have any prohibited items with you. Some items can only be checked in as checked baggage on board, while others are completely prohibited. Always double check that you did not take these items with you on the plane. If you are found to have one of them, you may be detained.
Avoid large objects. Large, oddly shaped items are not technically prohibited, but they may cause your baggage to be removed from the belt for a manual search. If you need to take such items, check them in or remove them before going through security. Here is an example of some things to take with caution:.:
- large electronic devices, such as handheld consoles (Xbox), portable DVD players, or CPAP (sleep machine) machines
- bulky books, manuals or dictionaries
- large crystals, such as geodesics
- dense metal objects
-
Place liquids in a plastic bag. Even if in local airport There are plastic bags, it is better to pack your liquids in advance. Find a clean, clear, 1-quart plastic bag. Containers for liquids should not hold more than 100 ml. They should also be placed in a plastic bag.
- If the container is more than 100 ml, it must be checked in as baggage, even if it is not completely filled with liquid.
- Instead of buying toiletries in small sizes, invest in travel-sized bottles. At home, fill them with your favorite shampoo, conditioner, soap and other personal care items.
-
Place electronic devices and liquids on top. Please remove laptops and liquids during security screening. To get them out as quickly as possible, place them on top. Make sure they are easy to reach so you can get them out quickly.
-
Hide documents and money in outer pockets. Documents and wallet should be at hand. You cannot place them in your clothing pockets when going through security. Place your wallet and documents in the outer pocket of your carry-on luggage. This will allow you to pull out your passport and tickets when you need to go through security.
- If you're taking a purse or briefcase as an additional personal item, you can put your passport and ticket in there, but make sure you can get them out quickly. You don't want to spend a lot of time rummaging through your bag looking for tickets.
Check your luggage. Carrying luggage will allow you to take more things with you and make it easier to carry on. Pack as many items as possible in your checked luggage instead of carry-on luggage. The fewer items you take in your hand luggage, the less likely it is that your bag will be searched.
Do you know what happens to your suitcase at the airport behind the rubber window after you check it in? The press service of Moscow Domodedovo Airport invited me to their place and allowed me to photograph the work of all airport services. In particular, I photographed the entire journey of the suitcase from the check-in counter to loading it onto the plane.
Passengers part with their luggage upon check-in. Here a tag containing information about the owner and destination is affixed to the suitcase:
1. 
Oversized luggage, that is, large or unusually sized luggage, can be checked at a separate counter. Airlines also advise checking in fragile luggage here. Here they will label it “glass” and send it down not on a general conveyor belt, but on a special elevator:
2. 
The luggage compartment occupies a huge hall, which looks like a small underground city under the airport. Its space is intertwined with a network of baggage conveyors, the length of which, in general, is more than 3.5 km. All suitcases descend here along one of 6 sleeves:
3. 
First of all, the suitcase goes through the scanner. No matter what position the suitcase is in, the scanner reads the information from its tag. If you left a sticker with a barcode on your suitcase from a previous flight, the scanner may get confused, and your baggage will go for additional processing, where an airport employee will manually find the right tag on the suitcase and send it on your flight. Therefore, airport staff advised me to rip off any excess stickers from my suitcase after each flight.
4. 
5. 
The suitcase then goes into an introscope, where it is scanned for explosives, weapons and other prohibited items:
6. 
If the suitcase seems suspicious to the system, then such baggage will be sent for a more thorough check.
7. 
Suspicious baggage undergoes 4 additional checks, including a CT scanner and a diffraction machine:
8. 
Dogs are also used to search for explosives:
9. 
10. 
Oversized luggage is scanned at a separate inspection point. By the way, if your bag has handles sticking out or the shoulder strap is not unfastened, then it will also be considered oversized:
11. 
12. 
IN luggage compartment At Moscow Domodedovo Airport, a suitcase can enter one of six conveyors. After scanning, 6 sleeves are combined into 4:
13. 
Suitcases fly through another scanner at high speed (the video of my “assistant” is at the end of the article). Here it is determined for which flight the suitcase is checked in and, depending on this, it is sent to the left or right sorter, also called the “circle”. If the “circle” is right, then the suitcase goes up:
14. 
If the “circle” is left, then down. Moreover, the distribution element of the conveyor manages to rise or fall in a matter of seconds:
15. 
Before entering the circle, the computer accelerates the suitcase and throws it exactly onto one of the platforms of the circle:
16. 
17. 
18. 
From the circle, the suitcase tips over onto one of 70 “slips”:
19. 
A slide is a slide for a suitcase. The system accurately calculates the time when the suitcase passes the desired slide and dumps the luggage onto it:
20. 
Take a closer look. Do you see the pink stripe above the slimes? This pink suitcase is carried on one of the platforms of the “circle”:
21. 
Depending on the number of passengers, one or more slips may be allocated for one flight. The suitcases are removed from them by the loader, and after scanning them with a hand-held scanner for control, they are transferred to carts:
22. 
23. 
24. 
If the plane is very large and there are many passengers on the flight, then instead of slides, one of two moving conveyors (triplanars) is used:
25. 
Please note that in the foreground is the crew's luggage:
26. 
Trolleys with luggage are transported to the plane:
27. 
Baggage can be loaded onto the plane either via a small conveyor ramp:
28. 
29. 
Or lift it on a special lift:
30. 
31. 
32. 
Now let's figure out what happens to our luggage upon arrival.
Usually, when a plane stops at a parking lot, a baggage train immediately pulls up to it:
33. 
The bags are transferred to trolleys, and the train travels to the arrival luggage compartment, in our case it was the internal lines department:
34. 
The locomotive drives up to one of the conveyors, and the loaders transfer the luggage onto the belt, from where it immediately leaves, upstairs for delivery:
35. 
36. 
37. 
38. 
Oversized luggage is taken out separately:
39. 
Transit luggage is marked with a bright yellow tag. Airport staff know in advance whether there is transit luggage on the flight. It is caught and placed on a separate cart:
40. 
I spent 4 days at Moscow Domodedovo Airport. Took 500 photos. They showed me absolutely everything that is at the airport. We were driven around the territory in an SAB (Aviation Security Service) car. We drove around the entire perimeter of the airport more than once, which is 28 kilometers! Together with the S7 pilot, I went through a pre-flight medical examination, briefing, introduction to the flight attendants, inspection and launch of the aircraft. I was even allowed to go up to the controllers' tower, from where I took a couple of unique spotter photos.
41. 
