Airports And Lost Luggage: How Common Is This Issue?

Losing luggage is a common fear among travellers, and for good reason. In 2021, more than 1.9 million bags were mishandled by US-based airlines, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. This equates to 480 lost, delayed or damaged bags for every 100,000 checked. While this may not seem like a high number, it can be a nightmare for those who fall victim to it.

How to prevent luggage from being lost

Losing your luggage can be a stressful experience, but there are several steps you can take to prevent it from happening. Here are some tips to help ensure your luggage arrives safely at your destination:

• Remove Old Tags: Make sure to remove all old bag tags from your luggage. Old tags can confuse scanners and divert your bag to the wrong flight pier. A thorough check for any old barcodes or tags on your suitcase is essential to ensure proper routing.
• Avoid Overstuffing: Heavy bags can get stuck on conveyor belts and increase the risk of misdirection. Try to pack light and avoid overstuffing your suitcase to reduce the chances of it getting stuck or mishandled.
• Proper Labelling: Ensure your luggage is tagged correctly and clearly labelled with your contact information and itinerary. Include your name, phone number, and email address on the tags to facilitate easy identification and return if your luggage is misplaced.
• Distinctive Appearance: Make your bag stand out by adding coloured straps or distinctive markers. This will help you identify your luggage quickly and reduce the chances of someone mistakenly taking it from the baggage carousel.
• Streamline Your Luggage: Remove or secure any loose straps, decorative tags, or bows that could get caught in the baggage handling system. Streamlining your luggage reduces the chances of it getting snagged or mishandled during transit.
• Track Your Luggage: Consider using GPS-tracked tags, such as Apple AirTags, to monitor the location of your luggage. These devices provide real-time updates and can help you and the airline locate your bag quickly if it goes missing.
• Check-In Early: Aim to check your luggage at least four hours before your flight. Checking in early reduces the risk of your bag being left behind due to time constraints or unexpected delays.
• Minimise Layovers: Opt for direct, non-stop flights whenever possible. The more connections you have, the higher the chances of your luggage being mishandled or left behind during the changeover.
• Keep Valuables with You: Always keep your valuables, medications, electronics, and essential items in your carry-on luggage. This ensures that even if your checked luggage is delayed or lost, you still have access to your most important possessions.
• Travel Insurance: Consider purchasing travel insurance that covers lost baggage. This can provide additional peace of mind and financial protection in the event of luggage loss or damage.

By following these tips, you can significantly reduce the chances of losing your luggage and improve your overall travel experience.

What to do if luggage is lost

Losing luggage is a relatively common occurrence and it can be a stressful and frustrating experience. Here is a list of steps you can take to try and locate your luggage and receive compensation:

Confirm your luggage is lost:

Be patient and wait for at least 30-45 minutes for your luggage, as sometimes bags can take a while to arrive due to staffing issues or the airport's size. Check other carousels in case your bag was sent to the wrong one, and if you have an AirTag or other tracking device in your suitcase, use it to try and locate your luggage.

File a missing baggage report:

Locate the baggage desk for the airline that operated your final flight and inform them that your bag is missing. Show them the bag tag you received when you checked your bag, and if they can't locate it in the system, fill out a missing baggage report. Provide as much identifying information about your bag as possible, including brand, colour, size, weight, and any distinctive marks. Also, include your contact information, local address, and flight information.

Determine what the airline will cover:

Ask the airline representative about their policies for lost or delayed baggage and what they will cover for essential expenses until your bag is located. Most airlines will have policies for such situations and may provide amenity kits or courtesy items, as well as some form of reimbursement for reasonable expenses.

Understand the difference between lost and delayed baggage:

Airlines typically declare a bag lost between five and 14 days after the flight, but this varies between airlines. "Delayed baggage" means your bag has been found and will be delivered to you within a few days, whereas "lost baggage" means it is genuinely lost and cannot be found.

Contact your credit card company:

If you booked your flight with a travel credit card, contact your credit card issuer as soon as possible. Some credit cards offer baggage delay insurance, which may cover a certain amount per day for a set number of days if your suitcase has been delayed.

Keep tracking your bag:

Use the reference number given to you when you filed the missing baggage report to stay updated on the status of your claim. Stay in constant communication with the airline to receive the most up-to-date information about your suitcase.

Escalate when necessary:

If you aren't getting anywhere with the airline, escalate the issue to a supervisor or another person at the airline. If all else fails, contact the Department of Transportation (DOT), as they require airlines to acknowledge consumer complaints within 30 days and respond within 60 days.

Request delivery to your home or accommodation:

Provide your contact information to the airline so they can reach out to you with updates, and request that they deliver your luggage to your home or accommodation once it is located. This can save you an extra trip to the airport.

Request checked baggage fee reimbursement:

Some airlines will reimburse your checked baggage fees if your luggage is delayed, so be sure to notify them immediately and submit any necessary claims.

Submit a claim to the airline:

Some airlines will allow you to qualify for compensation after your bags have been lost for a certain amount of time (often more than 24 hours). At this point, submit the airline's baggage claim form, listing the value of your lost contents and any incidental expenses incurred.

Keep receipts of incidental expenses:

Airlines will often reimburse reasonable incidental expenses (e.g. clothing, toiletries) incurred due to lost or delayed baggage, up to a certain amount per day for a limited number of days. Keep all your receipts so you can claim reimbursement for these expenses.

Check your credit card benefits:

The credit card used to book your flight may offer lost or delayed baggage benefits, which can provide additional reimbursement for expenses not covered by the airline or travel insurance. Be sure to read the card's guide to benefits to understand the notification deadlines and claims process.

Consider travel insurance and homeowner's insurance claims:

If your credit cards don't offer baggage insurance, you may be covered by a standalone travel insurance policy or even your homeowner's or renter's insurance. Remember that any travel insurance or homeowner's insurance coverage is usually secondary to the airline's compensation.

Inspect luggage for damage:

If your luggage is found, inspect it thoroughly for damage. The airline will likely offer to repair or replace your luggage, but you may need to notify them within a certain timeframe (e.g. 24 hours) of receiving your bag.

Look for missing items:

Once you receive your luggage, check for any missing items. If something is missing, contact the airport to see if they are holding an item matching your description. You may be able to receive compensation from the airline or another insurance policy for these items.

Additional Tips to Prevent Lost Luggage:

• Try to keep your itinerary simple, with fewer layovers and connections.
• Remove all existing labels and tags from previous trips.
• Add a distinctive feature to your luggage, such as a colourful ribbon, to help identify it.
• Always bring a carry-on with essential items and valuable possessions, such as medication, electronics, and jewellery.
• Keep important documents, such as passports and IDs, with you at all times.
• Consider using tracking devices like Apple AirTags to monitor your luggage's location.
• Check in for your flight early to reduce the risk of your bag being left behind.
• Always label your bag with your name and contact information, both inside and outside the suitcase.

Airports that lose the most luggage

Losing luggage is a common fear among travellers, and while it doesn't happen often, some airports and airlines are more prone to it than others.

John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York is ranked as the worst airport for lost and damaged luggage. This ranking was determined by comparing the nation's 100 busiest airports across four metrics: the number of property damage and loss claims per 100,000 domestic passengers and the percentage of these claims that were reimbursed in full.

Following JFK, the worst airports for losing luggage are Miami International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Norfolk International Airport, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

In terms of airlines, American Airlines has consistently ranked as the worst for mishandled luggage. In 2022, they lost or damaged more than nine bags per 1,000 checked. However, they showed improvement in September 2022, with a rate of 6.3 bags mishandled per 1,000. The low-cost carrier Allegiant had the best record, with only 1.7 bags mishandled per 1,000.

Airlines that lose the most luggage

While losing luggage is rare, it does happen. In 2023, American Airlines was the worst offender, losing or damaging more than eight bags per 1,000 checked. This is an improvement over 2022, when the airline lost or damaged more than nine bags per 1,000 checked.

The largest domestic airline carriers in the US mishandled (lost, damaged, delayed or pilfered) a total of more than 177,300 checked bags in September 2022, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' Air Travel Consumer Report. That's 480 mishandled bags for every 100,000 checked.

American Airlines, the largest airline in the world, topped the list for mishandled luggage in September 2022, with 6.3 bags mishandled per 1,000. It was closely followed by economy carrier JetBlue.

In 2023, American Airlines Network had the highest rate of mishandled bags per 100 checked bags, at 0.76. Its customers reported about 800,200 bags mishandled out of more than 105 million items enplaned. The average rate for the 10 reporting airlines was 0.58.

The airline with the lowest rate of mishandled bags in 2023 was Allegiant Air, at 0.21 per 100 items. However, it had the worst record for on-time arrivals.

In terms of sheer volume, Southwest Airlines, which checked more than 130 million bags in 2023, lost or damaged almost 588,000 of them. That's about 0.45%.

Compensation for lost luggage

If your luggage is lost, delayed, or damaged, you have the legal right to claim compensation from the airline. Here is what you need to know about compensation for lost luggage:

Reporting the Problem

It is important to report the problem to the airline as soon as possible. Most airlines have deadlines for filing claims, which are usually within a few days of your flight. You can report the problem by filling out a 'property irregularity report' (PIR) at the airport or by contacting the airline directly. Make sure to keep a copy of your PIR or written confirmation for your records.

What You Can Claim

The compensation you can receive from the airline is typically limited to the cost of essential items you need to purchase if your luggage is delayed, such as toiletries and underwear. If your luggage is lost or damaged, the airline may only cover a portion of the cost of replacing or repairing the luggage and its contents. Airlines often require receipts for all items included in your claim and may not offer "new for old" replacements.

Compensation Amounts

The amount of compensation you can receive varies depending on your flight and the airline. For US domestic flights, the maximum liability amount allowed by regulation is $4,700 per passenger. For international flights, the Montreal Convention sets the maximum baggage liability at approximately $1,700 per passenger. However, airlines are not required to pay the full amount and may have different policies for determining compensation.

Filing a Claim

To file a claim, you will need to provide the airline with documentation, such as your luggage labels, proof that you reported the problem, receipts for any items you had to purchase due to the delay, and proof of purchase for lost or damaged items. Ask the airline for their specific requirements and how they would like you to submit your claim.

Alternative Options

If you have travel insurance or home contents insurance that covers luggage, you may be better off making an insurance claim instead. Insurance claims may result in higher compensation amounts and a more straightforward claiming process. Additionally, if you are not satisfied with the airline's response to your claim, you can take your claim further by contacting the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or, as a last resort, taking your case to a small claims court.

Frequently asked questions