Finally, there's some good news about one of the most dismal parts of flying: lost luggage. According to the SITA Baggage Report 2016, 2015 marked a historic low with only 23.1 million bags mishandled, meaning 6.5 bags were lost per 1,000 passengers. While that number might not seem as low as we passengers might like, the number of mishandled bags has dropped by 50 percent across all international airlines since 2007, while the number of passengers has grown by nearly 200 percent. The report's statistics are reassuring, but their cause, according to SITA, isn't so encouraging for those who avoid checking their own baggage at the airport.
Self-service check-in is here to stay, which is good news since it's the primary way to lessen the risk of losing your own checked bag. The report found that an increasing number of airports use self-service bag check, with 40 percent of all international airlines now providing DIY luggage tag printing at kiosks and more than 75 percent expecting to do so in the coming years. As these options are being developed and offered across the globe, compounded with an automated process for connecting flights, the mishandling of baggage has lessened. Some airports, like in San Diego International, have found other ways for passengers to track their bags, like using bluetooth technology to notify passengers when their bags arrive at the carousel. Finding a solution to ensure your bags get from point a to point b isn't just for your benefit. In 2015 alone, mishandled bags cost the airline industry $2.3 billion.
Before you fly, try these few tricks (besides the always-self-check rule) to make sure your luggage makes it to your final destination:
- Avoid multi-ticket journeys. Airlines have an obligation to deliver bags only to the destination on the ticket, so your bags will not follow you to your destination if they are misplaced or delayed.
- Know your airline's track record. Check the government's baggage statistics to calculate whether your bag will make it or not. For instance, American mishandles more than two times as many bags as JetBlue.
- Move your valuables into your carry-on. Jewelry, computers, cash, and medication are often not covered by airlines' baggage reimbursement policies. Be extra careful and keep these in the bag you know will arrive with you to your final stop.