Nothing ruins a trip faster than watching the baggage carousel spin around empty while your suitcase is somewhere across the country. According to recent data, millions of bags go missing every year, and some airlines are far worse offenders than others. While the overall odds of losing your luggage remain relatively low, certain carriers have earned a reputation for mishandling checked bags at alarming rates. Knowing which airlines struggle most with baggage can help you make smarter booking decisions before your next vacation.
American Airlines tops the list in the United States
Anyone who has flown American Airlines knows the anxious wait at baggage claim. Unfortunately, that anxiety is well-founded. The Fort Worth-based carrier has consistently ranked as the most likely major airline to lose your luggage in America. This isn’t just about occasional mishaps. It’s a pattern that has emerged over years of data collection. During December 2023 alone, American mishandled over 60,000 bags out of 9.2 million handled. That works out to roughly 6.5 bags lost or damaged for every 1,000 checked.
Over a longer period, the numbers get even more striking. Between January 2021 and January 2024, American Airlines lost approximately 1.75 million bags. That averages out to 8.71 bags lost per 1,000 loaded onto aircraft. Now, American is the largest carrier in the country, so higher absolute numbers make sense. Still, even when you calculate percentages, your odds with this airline aren’t great compared to competitors. The takeaway here is simple: if baggage reliability matters to you, American might not be your best bet.
Regional carriers like Envoy have similar problems
Those short-hop flights on smaller planes often seem harmless. But regional carriers that feed into major airlines can be just as problematic for your luggage. Envoy Airlines, which operates as American Eagle for shorter domestic routes, came in second place for baggage issues. The carrier recorded over 224,000 reports of lost or damaged bags during the same study period. That translates to 8.25 bags per 1,000 loaded. For an airline handling fewer bags than its parent company, you’d expect better results.
Republic Airways, another regional affiliate serving Delta, United, and American, ranks third with 7.01 bags lost per 1,000. What’s particularly concerning about Republic is a detail buried in the data. Around 500 of its lost bags were mobility devices like wheelchairs. These items are often gate-checked, meaning they’re handed directly to staff at the boarding door. Losing gate-checked items suggests serious handling issues. If you’re connecting through regional flights, pack essentials in your carry-on just in case.
IndiGo and Iberia lead the global rankings
American travelers heading overseas should pay attention to international statistics. According to live tracking data that monitors social media complaints, India’s IndiGo airline currently sits at the top of the global lost luggage rankings. The probability of losing your bag with IndiGo is estimated at 1 in 27. That’s a 3.67% chance of your luggage going missing or getting delayed. For context, that’s nearly 15 times worse than the median airline. Over 108,000 bags were estimated lost in just the past 30 days.
Spain’s Iberia comes in second globally, with odds of 1 in 36. Air India follows closely at 1 in 59. European and Asian travelers should also note that KLM and British Airways both have odds around 1 in 85. These aren’t terrible numbers, but they’re well above average. When planning international trips, especially those with multiple connections, knowing these statistics helps you prepare. Consider insuring valuable items and keeping medication in your carry-on when flying these carriers.
Southwest handles the most bags but performs better
Here’s something that might surprise you. Southwest Airlines handles more luggage than any other major U.S. carrier. Thanks to their famous two-free-checked-bags policy, passengers load up their suitcases without hesitation. During December 2023, Southwest processed over 12 million bags. Yet despite this enormous volume, the airline only mishandled 4.6 bags per every 1,000. That gives passengers roughly a 1 in 216 chance of problems. Not perfect, but considerably better than American.
This is particularly impressive given Southwest’s past struggles. Remember the holiday meltdown of December 2022? A winter storm triggered mass cancellations that stranded over 2 million passengers. The airline faced a $140 million fine for that disaster. Since then, Southwest appears to have improved its operations. If free checked bags matter to you and you want reasonable odds of seeing them again, Southwest is worth considering. Just keep expectations realistic during busy travel periods.
Delta performs surprisingly well compared to competitors
Delta Airlines controls the largest share of U.S. air traffic at 17.8%. You might assume that handling so many passengers would lead to proportionally more baggage problems. But Delta actually outperforms its main rivals by a significant margin. During the December 2023 holiday period, Delta was the least likely major carrier to mishandle luggage. Out of over 8 million bags, passengers faced only a 0.36% chance of issues. That’s a 1 in 216 shot at losing your stuff.
Looking at broader data, Delta maintains this edge. The airline’s rate of 4.58 bags lost per 1,000 is well below American’s 8.71. SkyWest, Delta’s main regional partner, also performs well with just 5.28 bags per 1,000. Delta’s consistency across both mainline and regional operations suggests good systemwide practices. For travelers who prioritize getting their bags on time, Delta is currently one of the safer choices among major domestic carriers. The premium pricing might just be worth the peace of mind.
United Airlines has hidden issues with mobility devices
United Airlines has faced plenty of negative headlines lately. Engine fires, hydraulic leaks, and pieces of planes falling off tend to grab attention. But when it comes to regular baggage handling, United actually performs reasonably well. The carrier logged 6.43 bags lost per 1,000 handled. Given that United processed over 144 million pieces of luggage during the study period, that rate is fairly decent. Your odds of losing a standard checked bag hover around 0.64%.
However, there’s a troubling detail buried in the statistics. Among United’s lost bags were over 3,300 wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Just like with Republic Airways, this suggests problems with gate-checked items. These devices are crucial for passengers’ independence and daily functioning. Losing them isn’t just inconvenient. It can leave travelers stranded and helpless. If you or a family member relies on mobility equipment, this is worth knowing before booking with United or its regional partners.
Certain airports are worse for luggage than others
Your choice of airline matters, but so does your choice of airport. Live tracking data reveals that London’s Heathrow currently tops the list for airport baggage problems. The odds of losing your luggage through Heathrow are estimated at 1 in 26. That’s worse than any individual airline. Mumbai’s Shivaji airport and Delhi’s Gandhi airport follow with odds of 1 in 41 and 1 in 55 respectively. These busy international hubs seem to struggle with the volume of bags passing through.
For American travelers, there’s some good news. Among the 50 largest U.S. airports, JFK had the highest baggage mishandling rate at 2.59 bags per 100,000 passengers. That sounds bad, but it’s still better than many international hubs. Dallas Fort Worth ranked 30th with just 0.53 damaged bags per 100,000. Dallas Love Field performed even better at 48th. When booking connections, consider how busy and historically problematic certain airports have been for baggage handling.
Some airlines almost never lose bags
Not every airline deserves criticism. Some carriers have remarkably low rates of baggage problems. Air China currently shows odds of just 1 in 12,493 for losing your luggage. Brazil’s Azul follows at 1 in 6,222. Chinese carriers Xiamen Airlines and several Asian and South American airlines consistently rank among the best performers. While you might not fly these airlines domestically, knowing the global landscape helps when planning international trips.
In the United States, Alaska Airlines deserves mention despite some bad press. The carrier lost 6.69 bags per 1,000 handled. That’s lower than American, Envoy, or Republic. Considering Alaska handled over 60 million bags during the study period, this rate shows decent efficiency. JetBlue also performs well overall at 5.67 per 1,000. However, JetBlue lost over 3% of all mobility devices handled. Again, that gate-check concern pops up. Choose your airline based on what you’re traveling with.
Practical steps to protect your belongings
What can you actually do with all this information? First, always keep essentials in your carry-on. Medications, important documents, a change of clothes, and valuable electronics should never go in checked luggage. Second, consider adding AirTags or similar tracking devices to your bags. This won’t prevent loss, but it helps locate missing luggage faster. Third, photograph your bag and its contents before flying. This documentation speeds up claims if things go wrong.
When booking flights, factor baggage reliability into your decision. A slightly more expensive ticket on Delta might save you the headache of missing bags on American. If you must fly an airline with poor track records, avoid tight connections. Give your luggage extra time to transfer between planes. Finally, know your rights. Airlines must compensate you for delayed bags, usually covering reasonable expenses for toiletries and clothing. File reports immediately at the airport, and keep all receipts for reimbursement claims later.
Lost luggage doesn’t have to ruin your trip if you plan ahead. While no airline is perfect, the data clearly shows some are better bets than others. American Airlines and its regional partners consistently struggle, while Delta and Southwest show more reliable handling. Internationally, watch out for IndiGo, Iberia, and busy airports like Heathrow. Armed with this knowledge, you can make smarter choices and pack your carry-on strategically. Your vacation deserves to start with all your belongings intact.
