Baggage Reconciliation

Baggage Reconciliation is the mandatory security process of matching every piece of checked baggage to a passenger who has actually boarded the aircraft. If a passenger checks in baggage but does not board, their bags must be offloaded before departure.

This requirement was established after the Air India Flight 182 bombing in 1985 and is now an ICAO Annex 17 standard.

• Automated systems (BRS) track bags from check-in to aircraft
• Late-arriving passengers' bags may cause departure delays
• Transfer bags at connecting airports must also be reconciled
• Exceptions exist for cargo-only shipments under separate security screening