What hours do baggage handlers work?

Some unionized baggage handlers work shifts between eight and 11 hours long in a compressed workweek. This means employees may work four days on and then have three days off. Some baggage handlers are also responsible for cleaning the plane's cabin and preparing the plane for takeoff.



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Shifts can last up to 12 hours and include evenings, weekends and public holidays. The work may be seasonal.

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A baggage handler does a lot of lifting. They lift suitcases onto conveyor belts, onto transport vehicles, and onto planes. They need to have a lot of physical stamina because some of those bags can be heavy! That doesn't mean that a baggage handler's job is as easy as lifting things up and putting them down.

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Your job involves operating conveyor belts and luggage carousels, driving tugs and tow tractors between the concourse and the airport's baggage claim area, and lifting heavy, large, oversized baggage which can weigh over 50 pounds. If you work as a ramp agent, baggage handling is an aspect of your job.

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How much does an Airport Baggage Handler make? As of Sep 22, 2023, the average hourly pay for an Airport Baggage Handler in the United States is $17.94 an hour.

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A baggage handler has to squat, bend and perform other physical duties to excel at this job. The role involves a great deal of heavy lifting, as baggage handlers are required to lift baggage into and out of the aircraft during the loading and unloading process.

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Once inside, staff who range from baggage handlers to mechanics to cleaning crews are subject to either no security screening at all or to random spot checks at best. Only passengers, pilots and flight attendants are required by federal law to pass through airport metal detectors.

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Baggage handlers are often trained on-the-job. Employers will train new employees on how to operate conveyor belts, forklifts, luggage carriers and other heavy equipment. Baggage handlers will also be trained in health and safety procedures and in other important airport codes, such as security measures.

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Most common benefits for Baggage Handlers
  • 401(k)
  • 401(k) matching.
  • Dental insurance.
  • Employee assistance program.
  • Employee discount.
  • Flexible schedule.
  • Flexible spending account.
  • Health insurance.


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If their scans of checked bags show anything suspicious, they'll open your bag and check it out.

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If you are a baggage handler, you can be employed by specific airlines or private staffing companies. This job requires that you are able to complete heavy manual labor in a time-sensitive environment.

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Industry. Within the airline industry, a baggage handler is often referred to as a rampie or ramper: one who handles cargo on the ramp (the Aircraft Operations Area or AOA; outside the airline industry, the ramp is frequently referred to as the tarmac, a term popularized by the media).

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Baggage handlers get a retirement plan, and dental, life, and accident insurance. To sweeten the deal, like most airline employees, baggage handlers get to fly for free on any flight (source). And they get an average of two weeks paid vacation time to take advantage of those free flights.

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Top companies for Baggage Handlers in United States
  • McGee Air Services. 2.6 $21.40per hour. 254 reviews166 salaries reported.
  • United Airlines. 3.9 $18.95per hour. ...
  • Southwest Airlines. 4.2 $18.50per hour. ...
  • I. K. Hofmann. 2.9 $18.00per hour. ...
  • WFS Worldwide Flight Services. 2.9 $17.87per hour. ...
  • Show more companies.


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Average British Airways Baggage Handler yearly pay in Heathrow, England is approximately £25,259, which is 6% above the national average. Salary information comes from 9 data points collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months.

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There's a better chance of a soft-sided bag being able to be pushed into an overhead compartment or fit under the bed of a hotel room. And, when it comes to packing, soft-sided luggage offers the luxury of expansion.

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