Which US airlines are most likely to lose your luggage

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Which US airlines are most likely to lose your luggage

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American Airlines | Official Website

By Sky Industry News

Jul 24, 2025

There's nothing more frustrating than discovering your luggage has been lost after a long flight. This inconvenience can be due to operational mistakes, human error, or unexpected flight disruptions. Airlines usually manage to locate misplaced bags, but it can take from hours to weeks for them to arrive.

Lost luggage often results from bags being routed to the wrong plane or mishandled by ground crews who may misread tags. Short layovers can also prevent bags from making connecting flights in time. Additionally, system failures like IT glitches or conveyor belt issues at airports can lead to misplaced luggage.

According to Insider Travel Report and the US Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Reports, some US airlines are known for misplacing luggage more frequently than others.

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American Airlines, based in Fort Worth and a member of the oneworld alliance, operates around 6,800 flights daily across its global network. In 2024, the airline lost 0.90 per 100 enplaned bags according to the US Department of Transportation data. This was an increase from 2023 when they recorded 0.89 mishandled bags.

United Airlines is another major carrier operating globally as a founding member of Star Alliance. In 2024, United improved its record with only 0.68 mishandled bags per 100 enplaned compared to 0.82 in the previous year—a notable improvement attributed to their mitigation efforts.

Alaska Airlines Group recently became one of the largest airline companies in the US following its merger with Hawaiian Airlines. In 2024, they saw a slight increase in lost baggage incidents with 0.64 per 100 enplaned bags compared to the previous year's figure of 0.62.

Delta Air Lines reported a decrease in misplaced luggage cases in 2024 with only 0.49 per 100 enplaned bags compared to their previous year's rate of 0.54—a significant improvement for this major US carrier.

To prevent losing luggage, passengers are advised to clearly label their bags and consider using tracking technology like AirTags and Smart Trackers for peace of mind during travel.