United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines lost or mishandled between three and four bags of every 1,000 checked pieces. Across the board, the chance of an airline losing a suitcase ? at least for a little while ? is around 0.4%, according to LuggageHero.

The chances of an airport permanently losing your luggage are actually quite low, though "mishandling" (delays) is more common. According to 2025-2026 industry data from SITA, the global mishandling rate has dropped to approximately 6.3 bags per 1,000 passengers. Out of those mishandled bags, about 80% are simply delayed and are typically reunited with their owners within 48 hours. Only about 5% to 7% of mishandled bags are truly "lost" or stolen and never recovered. The risk is highest during international transfers, which account for over 40% of all baggage issues. To lower your personal risk, experts recommend using a "smart" tracker like an AirTag, removing all old barcodes from previous trips, and checking in early. While the "lost" rate is less than 0.1% of all bags checked worldwide, the total number of delayed bags remains in the millions annually due to the massive scale of global aviation.