Dreamt of Riding an Airport Bag Belt? It’s Not Possible, but We Can Take You Behind the Scenes

Have you ever wondered what happens to your checked baggage once it disappears behind the rubber curtain at the airport? If you’re traveling through Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport in New York, there’s a high chance that your bag will make it to its destination smoothly. The terminal, fully opened in 2022, boasts a state-of-the-art baggage handling system that can track about 98% of bags from check-in to plane loading.

USA TODAY had the privilege of touring the restricted areas of LaGuardia Airport and delving into the intricacies of the baggage handling process. Although riding the 3.2 miles of conveyor belts remained a dream, the tour provided an up-close look at every stage of the bag-handling journey.

Checking In: The baggage journey starts on the departure level, where floor-level baggage scales simplify the check-in process. With seven induction piers for regular baggage, two oversized bag check areas, curbside check-in, and a group check-in facility, Terminal B aims to enhance the passenger experience. Once ingested into the system, bags move to the primary screening facility.

Screening: The seven check-in piers channel bags to two central mainline conveyors, leading to the screening room. Every bag undergoes scanning by an array of 10 cameras, allowing the system to read barcodes, confirm the correct flight, and detect dimensions. Bags triggering alarms during the process are flagged for further inspection.

In the main screening room, appropriately-sized bags pass through a CTX machine similar to TSA scanners. Most bags are cleared, but if an issue arises, the system routes them to the secondary screening room. The energy-efficient conveyor belts run as needed, resulting in a 37% energy savings compared to traditional systems.

Extra Screening: Bags flagged for additional screening ride on LIDAR-equipped robots known as mobile inspection tables. These tables automatically navigate to an available TSA agent for thorough inspection. Once cleared, the bag rejoins the conveyor belt.

Loading and Unloading: Bags passing screening take about 10-15 minutes to move through the system. After inspections, they head to a garage-like space for loading onto trucks. The baggage system at Terminal B can handle over 3,250 bags per hour or 10,000-18,000 bags per day. The loading and unloading process, managed by airlines or their contractors, introduces a human component where issues may occur.

Baggage Claim: The terminal has nine common-use baggage claims and two oversized belts. The automated system undergoes testing daily before check-in opens, ensuring smooth operations. Aside from baggage handlers, most luggage movement is automated, minimizing manual interactions.

LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B showcases a modern and efficient baggage handling system, emphasizing automation to streamline processes. The journey from curb to plane involves meticulous checks and automation, offering passengers peace of mind regarding their checked baggage.

If you’re curious about other behind-the-scenes aspects of travel, feel free to share your interests!