Just don't do what some people do and put your passport in bag after going through gate and hand over bag at aircraft. Causes headaches when you get to destination and your bag is going around on carousel which is after immigration desks. Seen it happen several times.
Have also witnessed some people after they have been told in queue to leave their bag at the steps, rip off the label on way to aircraft so they get to keep it with them. Always wondered if any reconciliation between tags issued and bags taken at the steps. Probably not.