Plan Ahead For Air Delays, Lost Luggage

Posted onAuthorChris Owen

  • American Airlines ranks highest for mishandled luggage rates
  • Fort Lauderdale records the longest average security wait times
  • Coastal airports experience higher levels of security congestion
  • JetBlue struggles significantly with handling mobility devices

Recent comprehensive data releases have shed light on two critical aspects of air travel within the United States: airline luggage handling performance and airport security wait times. A study conducted by MyBaggage.com, analyzing Department of Transportation figures from January 2021 to January 2024, identifies American Airlines as the carrier with the highest volume of mishandled baggage. With over 1.75 million incident reports, the airline averaged 8.71 mishandled bags for every 1,000 enplaned.

Regional carriers Envoy Air and Republic Airways followed closely behind, rounding out the top three. While the total number of mishandled items is significant, the statistical probability of luggage loss remains relatively low, with even the lowest-ranking carrier maintaining a success rate of over 99 percent. Notably, the data highlights that JetBlue recorded the highest rate of mishandled wheelchairs and mobility devices per 1,000 items.

Simultaneously, new research highlights congestion levels at 31 major US airport hubs. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport currently records the longest average TSA security wait time nationwide at approximately 15 minutes and 27 seconds. Charlotte Douglas International Airport ranks second, followed by Los Angeles International and San Diego International. The findings reveal a distinct geographical pattern where coastal airports generally experience higher congestion, likely driven by heavy volumes of international and business traffic.

The data further breaks down peak congestion times, noting that early mornings at Fort Lauderdale and mid-afternoons at Charlotte typically see the longest queues. Conversely, late-night hours consistently offer the shortest wait times across most major hubs. Together, these reports provide travelers with statistical benchmarks for managing expectations regarding baggage reliability and airport arrival times.