What Happens to Your Baggage When You Fly – An Engineering hosted by IET Auckland Network

Have you ever wondered what happens to your luggage after you check it in? From that moment on, your bag begins a fascinating engineering journey through a highly automated and precisely coordinated system. Advanced conveyor technologies, RFID and barcode scanners, PLC-controlled diverters, and high-speed sorters work seamlessly to ensure your bag travels safely and quickly — often covering several kilometres in just minutes.

This lecture will reveal:
🔹 The hidden “airport underworld” where baggage travels
🔹 How systems are designed to handle thousands of bags per hour without mistakes
🔹 The role of automation, robotics, and AI in keeping luggage safe and on time
🔹 Real-world challenges such as delays and misroutes — and how engineering minimizes them