Finding luggage on a 747

Factual Questions
1

I travel a lot by plane. Every so often, some passenger does not show up and the pilot announces that their luggage needs to be removed. On a large plane, such as a 747, there can easily be over 300+ pieces of luggage.

When the baggage handlers go to find that piece of luggage, do they simply go through each piece of luggage and visually check the luggage sticker? I can see this working on smaller aircraft but on larger aircraft it seems to be a large time waster.

Is a better method used? Is luggage stored in systematic way or can a barcode reader be used? I know that baggage containers are sometimes used. Do they code which piece of luggage is in which container?

Holding up a large plane can cost the airlines a lot of money so I would think that they would have a systematic way of dealing with this problem.

2

however they do it, it always takes enough time for the jerk to board the plane licking his fingers and looking pleased at not having lost his flight despite his poor planning skills.

3

I’m pretty sure that baggage is in modular containers and not just loose in its storage on-board area. They just find the container(s) going to the passenger’s destination and look in it for her, or more likely his :wink: luggage.