Airport security and baggage restrictions can turn holidays into a nightmare, made worse when you're left anxiously waiting to see whether your suitcase has actually made it off the aircraft. The dread of missing luggage haunts many travellers until the moment they spot it on the carousel, and even then, there's the worry that fellow passengers might grab it by mistake.

However, a straightforward trick claims to ensure your suitcase emerges from the plane first, allowing you to begin your break without unnecessary hold-ups.

Guidance from Escape.com suggests checking in for your flight as late as you possibly can. The logic? Late check-ins mean your luggage is loaded last and should, in theory, appear first upon landing, according to Thomas Lo Sciuto, a ramp worker and gate agent at a regional US airport.

The airport employee explained, "Your best option is to be one of the last passengers to check your bags. This is because bags will always be loaded front to back on the bag carts."

That said, luggage isn't solely loaded according to check-in time. Those who cannot stomach the idea of arriving at the last minute will be relieved to learn that weight can also factor into the equation in certain instances.

SmarterTravel told HuffPost that US aviation giant Delta, which operates from Terminal 3 at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), arranges baggage into large and small loads to balance weight distribution. As passengers check in their bags, luggage is sorted into "cans" or large containers that hold multiple bags and can be moved as one unit.

SmarterTravel explained: "In other words, how far back your bag ends up depends on the weight of the can and the needs of the plane, not when you check it."

Narrow-bodied aircraft tend to "loose-load" bags individually rather than grouping them into cans, as is the practice on wider jets. In this instance, a checked bag will typically be placed into a holding area.

Luggage is transported to the aircraft and loaded shortly before departure, meaning the likelihood of it being loaded first depends on when it was checked in.

A bag checked in early may end up at the back of the storage area, which could mean it is last onto the plane and potentially first off.

There are other tricks to ensure your bags are among the first off the carousel upon arrival, such as marking them as "fragile".

News.com.au suggests this clever tactic frequently results in luggage being loaded last and unloaded first, potentially slashing your waiting time at the carousel.

However, passengers using "fragile" stickers should remove any old tags from their bags to prevent confusion. To make luggage stand out, opting for bold colours, personalised tags, or brightly tied ribbons could make your bags far simpler to identify. The most reliable way to exit the airport swiftly is to travel with hand luggage only.

Make sure your bags comply with your airline's specific requirements to avoid having your cabin bag checked in at the gate.

A personal item, also referred to as a small bag, must fit beneath the seat in front of you and is typically no larger than 40x30x20cm.

Cabin bags must be placed in the overhead locker. These can generally weigh up to 10kg and measure no more than 56x45x25cm.

Amongst UK carriers, British Airways typically offers the most generous complimentary hand luggage allowance on its basic fares.

Passengers may bring one 23kg cabin bag (56x45x25cm) and one smaller personal item (up to 40x30x15cm) free of charge.

Jet2 and Virgin Atlantic also permit a free cabin bag (10kg, 56x45x25cm) alongside a personal item.