Miami Named the Worst Airport for Lost Luggage, Study Finds

TDT | Manama

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Traveling can be stressful, but losing your luggage can make a trip even more frustrating. Recent research by Arka has revealed which of the world’s busiest airports are most likely to misplace travelers’ bags.

The study looked at passenger numbers, online searches for lost and found services, and regional baggage mishandling rates to determine where travelers are at the highest risk of losing their belongings.

Miami International Airport came out on top, with the highest number of lost luggage searches per million flights—306 in total. Handling over 52 million passengers a year, Miami also has a regional baggage mishandling rate of 5.5 per 1,000 passengers.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport ranks second, with 20,500 passengers searching for lost and found services annually, 5,000 more than any other airport. Like Miami, O’Hare’s mishandling rate is 5.5.

Singapore Changi Airport is the only airport in the Asia-Pacific region on the list, ranking third. With 265 online inquiries per million flights and a mishandling rate of 3.1, it highlights that baggage issues aren’t limited to the U.S.

Other airports rounding out the top five include Denver International Airport, handling 77.8 million travelers annually, and Amsterdam Airport, Europe’s first on the list, with a high mishandling rate of 12.3. Frankfurt am Main follows closely behind, sharing similar baggage handling challenges.

Dubai International Airport, the region’s only entry, ranks seventh with 9,600 lost and found searches and a mishandling rate of 6. London Heathrow, Dallas/Fort Worth International, and Paris Charles de Gaulle complete the top ten worst airports for lost luggage, all reporting significant baggage handling issues.

An Arka spokesperson said, “Losing luggage can quickly turn a trip upside down. Some airports clearly struggle more than others with baggage handling. Travelers should be aware of these challenges and plan accordingly, while airports must continue improving systems to ensure bags arrive safely and on time.”