Delayed and Lost Luggage: Which Airports Rank the Worst and Why

What are Luggage Irregularities?

In 2023, the total number of mishandled bags was 36.1 million. This seems like a lot, but with 5.2 billion passenger turnover, it makes 6.9 bags mishandled per every 1000 passengers. All mishandled luggage is divided into the following categories: 

• Lost (lost or stolen luggage); 
• Damaged (damaged or pilfered bags);
• Delayed. 

Currently, delayed luggage makes up more than half of all mishandled bags (80%), followed by damaged (13%) and lost (7%) luggage. 

Delayed luggage refers to any checked luggage that fails to arrive at the passenger’s destination at the same time as the passenger, despite being checked in for the same flight. The airline must make reasonable efforts at locating delayed luggage, and, if it is not located within 21 days, the delayed luggage is declared lost as per the Montreal Convention.

Reasons for Mishandled Luggage

There are various underlying reasons behind mishandled luggage: ground staff shortages, lack of or outdated equipment, old technologies, strikes and other disruptions, weather conditions, security issues, etc. 

SITA’s report on 2023 luggage irregularities shows the reasons and their ratios: 

• Transfer mishandling – 46%;
• Failure to load – 16%;
• Ticketing error/bag switch/security/other – 14%; 
• Airport/customs/weather/space-weight restrictions – 8%; 
• Loading error – 8%; 
• Arrival mishandling – 4%;
• Tagged error – 4%.

Transfer bags have historically accounted for the majority of mishandled baggage in the air travel industry. Most of the luggage is displaced during transfers, specifically international transfers (only 16% of all mishandled luggage belongs to domestic flights).

Worst Airports for Mishandled Luggage

There isn’t one database or ranking to check when it comes to “the worst” airports in luggage matters. Across the Internet one can come across various ratings, opinion pieces, and news articles, all of which will rely on different methodologies and data to back them up. Even though there is no unified list, some airports have been consistently popping up year after year:

•   John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), USA
•   Miami International Airport (MIA), USA
•   Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), USA
•   Ezeiza International Airport (EZE), Argentina
•   Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Canada
•   Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Thailand
•   Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), USA
•   Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEI), Lebanon
•   Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), France
•   London Heathrow Airport (LHR), UK
•   Dubai International Airport (DXB), UAE
•   Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Germany
•   Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), Netherlands
•   Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), Australia
•   San Francisco International Airport (SFO), USA

Of course, it is worth mentioning one unique airport, although not a focus of this article – Kansai International Airport (KIX), Japan that has held an impressive 30-year record of zero bags lost ever since it opened in 1994. Wow!

Preventing Mishandled Luggage

Even though airlines and airports increase their efficiency and invest in the improvement of all processes, there is still some way to go between current statistics and achieving zero lost luggage. Having said that, here are some tips on how to prepare for your trip and potentially avoid mishandled luggage:

•   Mark and label your luggage: to avoid someone else grabbing your bag accidentally, mark your luggage to stand out (colored ribbons, bright stickers). Make sure to label your luggage (name, contact details) both outside and inside your bag.
•   Don’t be late: arrive at the airport on time, this will help avoid rushed check-in or security screening, reducing the chance of mishandled luggage.
•   Pack wisely: do not pack dangerous goods or expensive items in your checked bag – dangerous goods might be a reason your bag is stopped by security and not loaded on time; expensive items might attract unwanted attention from dishonest airport staff.
•   No short transfers: if possible, use direct flights; if transfer flights are not avoidable, avoid having short layovers and try to book your transfers with at least 1 hour in between.
•   Carry-on basics: pack your essentials in a carry-on, and add back-up items and toiletries to carry you through the first 24 hours just in case your luggage arrives later.
•   Purchase insurance: always travel with insurance that includes luggage coverage as well. Even in the event of delayed or damaged luggage, it will make your travel less stressful.

Handling Missing Luggage

Although you only have less than 1% chance of your luggage going missing, it’s always wise to know your rights and responsibilities in such situations. Here are important things to know: 

•   Report immediately: most airlines require you to report a damaged, delayed, or lost bag within 24 hours of your arrival, or immediately after your flight.
•   Provide details: you will need details about your flight and your bag’s appearance and content. The more information you can provide, the easier it will be to locate your luggage.
•   Keep flight documents: make sure to obtain a copy of your PIR (property irregularity report), as this is an essential document for processing and following up on your claim.
•   Collect receipts: if you purchase any essential items because of delayed luggage, keep all the receipts to be able to apply for reimbursement.
•   File for compensation: if your bag is not found within 21 days, file a claim for compensation of lost luggage.

By following these steps, your chances of locating your luggage or receiving appropriate compensation afterwards increase significantly.

Safe travels!