Loss of bags … headache in the heads of travelers and airlines

Economic Affairs Editor

– 23 million lost bags in just one year and recover 18 million

– One billion dollars in the cost of luggage missing annually on airlines

– The best performance of the airlines in Asia with 3.2 bags per thousand passengers

– 75% of airlines adopts modern technologies by 2025

The fun travel experience of millions of travelers around the world is not without a bitter part, is the loss of bags and luggage. For these, there is nothing worse than the discovery that their luggage did not reach them, and the loss or delay of luggage is a logistical and financial burden on airlines around the world. With the increasing number of passengers and the complexities of trips, fears of losing bags and luggage returned again. A poll showed that 63% of travelers saw that luggage loss is one of the worst nightmares that they might face during travel, ahead of the delay or abolition of flights. While only 31% stated that their company will actively deal with the lost luggage problem.

According to a report on the luggage of travelers for the year 2024, it was mistakenly dealt with with more than 23 million bags around the world in 2023, compared to 26 million in 2022. The rate of luggage that was dealt with wrongly decreased globally to 6.9 bags per thousand passengers in 2023, which is the lowest since 2018 compared to 7.6 bags per thousand passengers in 2022. This decrease came despite the increase in the number of passengers to 5.2 billion during this General.

Although most bags are retrieved, there are about 5 million missing goods between lost or stolen, and they are never returned to their owners as bags on international trips are more likely to lose at a rate of more than twice compared to internal trips.

There are many causes that lead to the loss or delay of luggage during travel, and they are often caused by a defect in the series of operations that bags within airports are going through. Among the most prominent of these causes is the problems associated with the transfer of flights, which constitute about 42% of cases of loss. When the traveler has a stop or a “transit”, the bag may not reach in time to the next plane, especially if the time of the flight between the flights is short.

The error then loading the luggage, which represents about 18% of the cases, comes, and this occurs when the bag is placed on an error plane, either because of the workers ’acceleration or the lack of clarity of the information accompanying the bag. Also, the role of intense congestion and the lack of cadres in some airports cannot be overlooked, especially during peak periods such as summer holidays and seasons, which leads to pressure on handling and delivery systems, and increases the possibilities of error and delay.

The cost of lost luggage on the global aviation sector is estimated at more than two billion US dollars annually, and these costs include compensation for travelers, shipping of late bags, customer service costs, as well as a negative impact on reputation. Upon luggage, most airlines are committed to uniform policies based on international agreements, such as the Montreal Agreement, which imposes on companies to compensate passengers in the event of delay or loss of luggage. The procedures usually begin with an official communication from the passenger with an accurate description of the appearance of the bag and its contents, so that the company then begins to try to track the luggage through the bags tracking systems. In the event that the bags are not found within 21 days, the bag is considered “permanently missing” and the passenger becomes eligible for financial compensation.

But on the ground, the degrees of commitment and speed in implementation differ from one company to another, as some major companies provide digital applications that facilitate luggage tracking and submit complaints electronically, while passengers in other companies may have to deal with a complex bureaucracy. The ceiling of compensation of the lost bag is often determined by most airlines for an amount not exceeding $ 1700, and may be much decreased in the absence of clear evidence of the value of the contents.

In 2022, companies such as American Airlines and United Airlines were among the highest in terms of the number of complaints related to luggage loss, due to the density of trips and the complexity of operating networks. On the other hand, the airlines in the Asia Pacific region recorded the best performance, with only 3.2 bags per thousand passengers, thanks to automation and modern infrastructure at many Asian airports. Companies such as Singaporean lines and Japanese lines are highlighted as examples of high efficiency in luggage tracking, as a result of continuous investment in advanced tracking techniques and effective customer services.

Airlines and airports began to adopt advanced technical solutions aimed at improving the accuracy of tracking and reducing human errors. Indeed, some airlines, such as “Delta”, adopted tracking techniques using slices based on wireless frequencies, and luggage follow -up applications, moment by moment, and this contributed to reducing luggage loss rates by up to 20%. Besides, many airlines have become custom -made applications on smartphones that allow travelers to track their luggage site step by step.

Expectations indicate that more than 75% of airlines around the world will adopt instant luggage tracking systems at the basic points of flights by the end of this year 2025, in a move that reflects a major shift towards improving the travel experience and enhancing the reliability of luggage management.

Luggage loss is one of the most factors that can make travel a negative experience for travelers, whether by loss or damage, and to avoid these troubles, there are several steps that the traveler can take from choosing the appropriate travel bag. It is preferable to choose a solid bag made of durable materials such as aluminum, as it provides effective protection against shocks and scratches. It is also recommended to choose a distinctive color bag or add a colorful adhesive tape or striking stickers, to be easily distinguished among dozens of bags similar to the functioning of the luggage. To secure the bag, it is preferable to use approved locks from the transportation bodies, so that the inspection employees can open them without breaking them when needed, and plastic bonds or safety belts can also be used for clouds, which makes it difficult for any intruding to access the contents of the bag easily. It is also preferable to take pictures of the bag from the outside and the inside before traveling, and documenting its contents, especially if it includes electronic tools or valuable holdings, this documentation will help you if you need to submit a claim to the airline when luggage is lost or damaged. One of the important aspects that some people ignore is to place a clear identification card inside and outside the bag, including your name and phone number.

While travelers have to take measures such as instant tracking and reduce luggage as much as possible, airlines must give the lost luggage real priority, not only to include them in the list of complaints.