Although that is ultimately your call, there should be no added risk with checking your bag at the gate, since it's no more likely to get lost or misplaced than any other checked bag.

Whether it is "safer" to check your bag at the gate rather than at the ticket counter depends on how you define safety. If safety refers to the physical security of your belongings, gate-checking is often considered slightly superior because your bag spends less time in the airport’s automated conveyor system, where most mechanical damage and theft occur. Bags checked at the gate are usually taken directly down to the tarmac and loaded last, meaning they are often the first to be unloaded. However, from a logistical and stress perspective, counter-checking is much "safer" for your peace of mind. On crowded 2026 flights, overhead bin space fills up quickly, and being forced to gate-check a bag means you must scramble to remove essentials like medications, lithium batteries (which are prohibited in the cargo hold), and valuables at the very last second. Furthermore, gate-checked bags are almost always sent to the regular baggage claim at your final destination, meaning you still face the same risk of the bag being lost or delayed by ground crews as any other checked luggage.