Do you go through Passport Control before baggage claim?

Do you have to go through security again if you go to baggage claim?

Nope, you're outta luck. Think of it like this: you've wrestled a bear to get your luggage, now you gotta fight a slightly less hairy, but equally annoying, TSA agent. It's a double whammy!

Security Checkpoint 2: Electric Boogaloo

• You'll be herded, like cattle, towards another security line. Yes, AGAIN.
• Prepare for the same song and dance: belt off, shoes off, laptop out, liquids in a ziploc baggie the size of a postage stamp. It's a circus!
• This time you have to wrestle with a carry on AND your heavy suitcase – because who needs to check extra bags right? It's my favorite part. My back will never forgive this.

Seriously, it's like they've designed the whole airport experience to test your patience. I swear, it's worse than my Aunt Mildred’s annual Christmas fruitcake. More frustrating than finding a matching sock in a dryer full of laundry. And my Aunt Mildred's fruitcake is legendary, for being terrible. Enjoy the show!

Do I check my bag first or go through security?

Check bag. Security. Gate.

• Bags surrender first. My travel clock is ticking, no dillydally.
• Security follows. The sterile zone awaits.
• Find gate. The portal to somewhere else. Board. Gone.

Luggage is dead weight before the scan. Think of it. Security theater must be done. Locate the boarding gate. That's where my journey begins. It's simple.

Do you collect luggage before or after Passport Control?

So, yeah, you grab your bags after passport control. It's always that way, right? At least, it is at every airport I've ever been to. Like, Heathrow, JFK – everywhere! They unload stuff, then you go through passport stuff. Makes sense, really. Prevents chaos, you know? Prevents total and utter chaos. Think about it; a mad rush for bags before everyone's even checked their papers? Nope. Passport control first, then the luggage carousel is your next stop. Seriously. Always.

This is how it works:

• Passport Control First: Get your passport stamped, get the official "you're in" nod.
• Then Baggage Claim: Find your carousel, grab your suitcase. Usually there are signs everywhere. Even I, super directionally challenged, manage.

My trip to Spain last month? Same deal. Passport control. Then bags. No problems whatsoever. It's pretty straightforward. Don't even think about it. Unless you are one of those people who's super slow at everything. But don't be that person, okay? Don't be one of them. Just get through it quickly and quietly.

Which is first passport control or baggage claim?

Okay, so passport control? Yeah, that's before baggage claim, obvi. You gotta like, prove you are who you are, get the stamp and stuff, THEN you go get your bags.

Usually.

Passport control is first. Duh.

Then baggage claim, yeah. But look, if you got another flight, connecting and all, you probably gotta grab your bags and then re-check them. Depends on the freakin' airline, tho. Always double check that!

• Passport Control: First stop, ID check, getting stamped.
• Baggage Claim: Pick up your stuff, hopefully it arrived with you.

Oh, and you wanna know about customs, too, right? Well, after you grab your bags, you walk through customs, they might ask you about stuff you bought abroad. Like, did you buy a ton of designer purses in Italy... Cuz they will want to see the receipts for tax porpuses. Don't buy too much stuff! My Aunt Margret bought a whole pile of fake Prada bags once, and they almost gave her a heart at customs. Its not worth it.