Hey, is your luggage stuffed to the gills with Christmas and Hanukkah presents and it would completely ruin the holidays if it got lost in transit? We’ve got some important intel for you if so. There’s a list out there, as reported by CNET, that compiles data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics—and that list ranks the airlines in order of how likely they are to lose your bags.
The most current data is for September 2022, and we can only imagine the holidays will further erode these numbers. That month, the top 10 US airlines lost track of more than 177,300 checked bags. It’s important to note that these statistics include wheelchairs and scooters, the loss or delay of which can be devastating for disabled travelers. It’s one thing to lose the gifts you plan to give or the clothes you hope to wear, and quite another thing to not have a device you rely on for movement.
There’s a little finagling of the data between operating carriers (the airline that actually flies the segment) and marketing carriers (the airline you purchased the seat from), but we’re using data from the airlines that actually flew with, and lost track of, the ‘enplaned’ bags. A compelling statistic is that from January to September of this year, the carriers lost 2.1 million bags, while that figure for last year is significantly less: 1.3 million. If we separate out wheelchairs and scooters from that data, this year’s January-September figure is 8,264 mishandled wheelchairs and scooters, compared to the 2021 figure for that 9-month period, 4,711.
Since this year is already so different from last year, we’re using the year-to-date information to calculate the top 10 major carriers most likely to keep track of your baggage.
1. Allegiant
2. Hawaiian
3. Frontier
4. Spirit
5. Southwest
6. Delta
7. United
8. JetBlue
9. Alaska
10. American
If we apply that same data for airlines least likely to lose wheelchairs and scooters, Allegiant is still the most reliable:
1. Allegiant
2. Delta
3. United
4. Hawaiian
5. Southwest
6. Alaska
7. Frontier
8. American
9. JetBlue
10. Spirit
(Smaller airlines within both lists are Endeavor, Skywest, Horizon, Mesa, PSA, Envoy and Republic)
If baggage and not mobility devices is your concern, what are some solutions? Stuff everything you can into your carryon, or spring for gift cards or experiences this year.
And what do you do if your luggage is indeed misplaced? Here are some tips from us.