Data Analysis Identifies Airline Baggage Mishandling Rates Ahead of Holiday Travel
A new report from travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth highlights disparities in airline baggage performance, identifying United, American, and Hawaiian as having the highest rates of mishandled bags.
As holiday travel volume nears, data from the U.S. Department of Transportation analyzed by Squaremouth indicates varying success rates among major carriers regarding luggage handling. The analysis measured the number of mishandled bags per 100 checked items, revealing that United Airlines, American Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines reported the highest frequencies of baggage issues.
Conversely, the data points to Allegiant Air, JetBlue Airways, and Southwest Airlines as the carriers with the lowest rates of reported baggage incidents. These figures serve as an indicator of carrier performance in managing passenger belongings during periods of high demand.
Chrissy Valdez, Senior Director of Operations at Squaremouth, noted that travelers should proactively manage risk by keeping essentials in carry-on luggage and documenting their belongings with photos. Should issues arise, passengers are advised to file incident reports immediately with their respective airlines.
While airlines offer limited policies for lost or delayed items, industry experts suggest that travel insurance can provide additional coverage for baggage delay, loss, or damage. The analysis underscores the need for passengers to understand the limitations of carrier liability as they prepare for seasonal travel.