This Is What Really Happens to Lost Luggage-and Where It Ends Up

"Most frequent fliers have experienced that sinking feeling of waiting for their bag to come down the conveyor belt, dreading the possibility of a delayed or lost bag. But in reality, very few bags are actually lost, delayed, stolen, or damaged. In 2024, airlines globally mishandled 6.3 bags per 1,000 passengers, according to SITA's (an air transport communications and information technology company) Globe Baggage Report."

"Most bags find their way home quickly, according to Sonni Hood, senior manager of public relations and communications at Unclaimed Baggage, a company that purchases unclaimed items from airlines. It is the only retailer of lost luggage items in the U.S. "99.5 percent of bags will reach their rightful owners immediately," Hood says. "For those that do not, the airline industry standard requires a bag to remain lost for a minimum of 90 days before it's officially deemed 'unclaimed.'""

"Some airlines are adopting new technology to reduce the number of bags that go astray. Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines have all integrated Apple's AirTag tracking into their mobile app, allowing passengers to share their device's location directly with the airline. The feature helps ground crews locate misplaced bags more efficiently, potentially reducing the number of items that enter the unclaimed system."

In 2024, airlines globally mishandled 6.3 bags per 1,000 passengers while U.S. carriers mishandled 5.5 per 1,000. Most checked luggage reaches owners immediately, with 99.5 percent recovered and fewer than 0.03 percent going permanently unclaimed. The airline industry requires a bag to remain missing for a minimum of 90 days before it is officially deemed unclaimed. Unclaimed Baggage is the only U.S. retailer that purchases those items. Airlines are adopting tracking technologies such as Apple AirTag integration to help ground crews locate misplaced bags, and unresolved luggage eventually moves to a large sorting facility in Alabama.

Read at Travel + Leisure