A recent report conducted by shipping site MyBaggage.com analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding the mishandling of luggage over a three-year period from 2021 to 2024. The report specifically looked at the total amount of luggage, including wheelchairs and mobility scooters, checked in by airlines during this time frame. By cross-referencing this data with the over 7 million lost items reported, the researchers were able to compile a list of airlines with the worst track record for delivering traveler belongings to the correct destination on time and in order.
Topping the list was American Airlines, which struggled with 1,750,009 lost luggage reports, averaging 8.71 disappeared bags per 1,000 loaded onto an aircraft. Following closely behind was Envoy Airlines, an American Airlines regional carrier, with 224,236 lost items, translating to a rate of 8.25 bags lost for every 1,000. In third place was Republic Airways, which stood out for mishandling nearly 500 wheelchairs and mobility devices out of 194,189 lost items, averaging 7.01 bags lost per 1,000.
Alaska Airlines came in fourth on the list with 402,781 mishandled bags out of 60 million, averaging 6.69 per 1,000. United Airlines took fifth place with a score of 6.43 lost bags out of every 1,000. Notably, United had nearly 3,350 wheelchairs go missing out of its 932,000 total lost items. PSA Airlines followed in sixth place with an average of 6.06 lost bags per 1,000, totaling 207,060 lost bag reports from 34 million, with 23,508 of those being mobility devices. JetBlue ranked seventh, losing 251,388 bags out of 44 million, with a 5.67 average per 1,000. Additionally, JetBlue mishandled 33 out of 1,000 mobility devices with a total of 2,661 out of 79,461.
Delta affiliate SkyWest took the eighth spot, losing 439,290 bags out of 38.6 million passengers, resulting in an average of 5.28 lost bags per 1,000. Delta Airlines itself came in ninth, with 1,107,525 missing bags out of 217 million, translating to 5.10 lost bags per 1,000. Of these lost items, 3,317 were mobility devices. Finally, Spirit Airlines rounded out the top ten with 185,610 mishandled bags out of 37 million, equating to approximately 4.93 lost bags out of every 1,000 pieces of luggage.
Overall, this report serves as a cautionary reminder to travelers to double-check their bags when flying with airlines that have a track record of mishandling luggage. Being mindful of which carriers have higher rates of lost items can help travelers take preventative measures to ensure their belongings arrive safely and on time at their intended destination. By arming themselves with information about airlines that have a history of luggage mishandling, passengers can make more informed decisions when choosing which carrier to fly with, ultimately leading to a smoother and more stress-free travel experience.
