The Best and Worst Airlines for Lost Luggage

Caroline Morse Teel is the Executive Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Caroline has a passion for adventure travel and has hiked to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the bottom of the Grand Canyon in pursuit of a good story. Follow her around the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

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Here’s a good reason to travel carry-on only next time you fly—U.S. airlines lost or mishandled over 7 million pieces of luggage from 2021 to 2024. (Mishandled luggage refers to any bag that has been lost, delayed, damaged, or stolen.)

Luggage shipping site MyBaggage.com analyzed data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation for the period of January 2021 to January 2024 to determine the best and worst airlines for luggage handling.

Large large amount of lost baggage at the airport. — Anton Gvozdikov | Adobe Stock

American Airlines was deemed to be the worst airline for luggage handling, mishandling over two hundred million bags over the three-year period studied.

If you must check a bag, try to fly on Spirit Airlines. This budget carrier was surprisingly the best airline for checked luggage. According to MyBaggage.com, Spirit Airlines mishandled around 4.93 pieces of luggage per every 1,000 pieces checked.

The U.S. Airlines That Mishandle Luggage the Most

Rank	Airline	Total Pieces of Luggage Handled	Total Pieces of Luggage Mishandled	Luggage mishandled per 1,000 Enplaned
1	American Airlines	200,911,727	1,750,009	8.71
2	Envoy Air	27,171,489	224,236	8.25
3	Republic Airways	27,750,643	194,667	7.01
4	Alaska Airlines	60,185,459	402,781	6.69
5	United Airlines	144,882,284	932,219	6.43
6	PSA Airlines	34,143,991	207,060	6.06
7	JetBlue Airways	44,312,369	251,388	5.67
8	SkyWest Airlines	83,196,475	439,290	5.28
9	Delta Airlines	217,187,414	1,107,525	5.10
10	Spirit Airlines	37,613,743	185,610	4.93

Tips for Preventing Lost Luggage

Reduce the chances of lost luggage by following these tips:

Pack an Apple Air Tag or other tracking device inside your luggage
Remove any old airline stickers or baggage tags before checking your bag
Clearly label your luggage with your current contact information
Avoid booking connecting flights

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