A baggage handler has revealed the 'real' reason why your suitcases arrive at your destination looking so beaten up - but not everybody is convinced.
Most travelers know the slight feeling of dread as you wait at baggage reclaim to collect your belongings after a flight.
After the relief of seeing your suitcase made it to its destination, there's the nerve-wracking moment you lift it off the carousel to check whether it's still intact.
If you've ever lost a wheel or handle during transit, you know just how much of an inconvenience that can be - let alone if your suitcase has suffered some other form of irreparable damage.
Most people would blame the baggage handlers for carelessly flinging their cases around with abandon - but it turns out there could be another culprit that's really killing your cases.
One baggage handler took to TikTok to share a behind-the-scenes video of how those cases get transferred to the carousel - and what's causing the damage.
They wrote: "POV: when people think baggage handlers are the ones responsible for breaking their bags… No sir, it’s this big metal arm that abuses your luggage."
In the clip, cases can be seen traveling along on conveyor belts before being shunted down the correct ramp by a large metal arm.
The luggage then falls down the steep slope heading towards the area where its owner will claim it.
People in the comments were left stunned to see how cases were walloped by the machinery, getting a glimpse at a part of the airport most never get to see.
They wrote: "surely they could make something that pushes the bag just a little softer," to which the creator responded: "Some bags can be ridiculously heavy so needs a good push down the slide ya know."
Others added: "thats a new one. i like the older airports that hits it like a sledhammer," and: "But people wish to remain ignorant and blame others. lol."
Another commented: "'Dont blame us' they say after choosing to but these robots to do this job."
Most people were still unconvinced that it wasn't actually the baggage handlers destroying the cases, writing: "Maybe, but I've literally watched a baggage handler lift a corner of my mum's electric wheelchair and drop it to show his mate how heavy it was, so..."
Others added: "there also video of then literally throwing ppl bags like they throwing them out for bins" and: "As if we don’t see y’all launching our bags around when putting on / taking off the plane."
Another commented: "and the handlers that launch your bag into a cart 20ft away," and: "To be fair I’ve seen plenty of video of baggage handlers just throwing suitcases and packages marked fragile all over the place with no respect for others belongings."
One joked: "Bags break in this order: 1. Bag gets hit from the big metal arm, POW. 2. Bag falls from Barrow only to be run over by a vehicle. 3. Overexcited baggage handler on roids angry at life. 4. Bag gets caught on Baggage carousell turn."
While there's not much you can do to protect your bag once you've handed it over to the airport gods, there are a few steps you can take to give it the best chance of arriving intact.
Some people wrap theirs in plastic to protect it from dirt and to save their contents from spilling out if the worst were to happen and the case splits, while others add straps and make sure all their zippers are firmly closed and handles are tucked in before waving it off at check-in.