Baggage delays cost the aviation industry billions each year, but ultimately, it’s the customer that pays the price when their luggage goes missing.
Lost luggage not only causes anxiety and distress in affected travellers, but it can disrupt travel plans, impact important occasions, cause financial hardship and result in the loss of sentimental items, to name but a few.
As millions of holidaymakers take to the skies this summer, it’s worth noting which parts of the world plane passengers are more likely to experience lost or mishandled luggage.
According to aviation technology specialist Sita, 33.4 million bags were mishandled in 2024, down from 33.8 million the previous year.
Though passenger numbers jumped by 8.2 per cent, the overall mishandling rate dropped to 6.3 bags per 1,000 passengers, a whopping 67 per cent lower than in 2007.
Of the 33.4 million bags mishandled in 2024, 22 million were resolved and closed in SITA’s WorldTracer service within 48 hours.
Still, these advancements are only a drop in the water: lost luggage cost the industry approximately $5 billion (£4.2 billion) last year – and one surprising continent has emerged as the leading culprit for mishandling bags.
Passengers are twice as likely to experience luggage issues in Europe than in other parts of the world, despite the region reducing its mishandling rate to 12.3 bags per 1,000 passengers, recovering from 15.7 in 2022.
According to aviation technology specialist Sita , 33.4 million bags were mishandled in 2024, down from 33.8 million the previous year
The study revealed a notable cause: Europe’s air transport industry handled record passenger volumes in 2024, with airports and airlines managing soaring baggage loads.
The Middle East and Africa, on the other hand, mishandled 6.02 bags per 1,000 passengers in 2024 – up from 4.5 in 2023 but still a top performer.
Asia-Pacific maintained the lowest mishandling rate per passenger globally at 3.1 per 1,000 passengers.
North America demonstrated an improved mishandling rate by 4.5 per cent year-on-year to 5.5 bags per 1,000 passengers.
Lastly, South America has seen a reduced mishandling rate nearly 15 per cent year-on-year, from 6.43 bags in 2023 to 5.5 in 2024.
In light of the findings, travel experts have offered up tips for keeping track of your luggage as you embark on your summer holiday.
US-based content creator, Melanie, known as Melanie the Travel Girl on TikTok, advised putting trackers in cases, and said to try and avoid flight routes with layovers, as this can minimise the chance of your bag not arriving to your final destination.
The influencer suggested a variety of brands including Apple Airtags, tile and LandAirSea GPS.
Passengers are twice as likely to experience luggage issues in Europe than in other parts of the world, despite the region reducing its mishandling rate to 12.3 bags per 1,000 passengers (Pictured: Heathrow International Airport, London)
She also advised that holidaymakers should take a photograph of their luggage before dropping it off with the airline, adding you should snap pics of both the ‘contents of your luggage and the outside of the actual bag’.
Carl Broadbent, a former baggage handler at Heathrow Airport in London, added that ‘visibility is key’ for finding your suitcase and warned that it is ‘vital’ that travellers double-check their luggage tag information is up to date.
The founder of Travel Spock also reiterated that having something ‘uniquely you’ on your luggage can help identify your bag quickly.
‘I’m not suggesting you buy a neon suitcase, although that could help!’ he told MailOnline. ‘What’s more effective is tying a brightly coloured ribbon or scarf to your bag – something uniquely you. It’s simple, but it helps your luggage stand out and less likely to be mistaken for someone else’s.’
