American Airlines is the number one worst airline for losing or damaging your luggage, with 5.34 incidents per 1,000 bags. Although it's a low percentage compared to the total number of bags checked, American Airlines still takes the dubious distinction of being the airline most likely to lose your luggage.

In 2026, baggage mishandling statistics continue to be a major point of contention for travelers. According to the most recent SITA Baggage IT Insights and DOT consumer reports, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines frequently appear at the top of the list for total volume of mishandled bags, though this is often due to their massive fleet sizes and complex hub-and-spoke networks. On a "per passenger" basis, regional carriers and low-cost airlines like Frontier and Envoy Air often record higher rates of lost or delayed items. In Europe, Lufthansa and Air France have historically struggled with baggage transfers at massive hubs like Frankfurt and Paris CDG. Interestingly, 2026 data shows that "transfer mishandling" remains the leading cause of lost luggage, accounting for over 40% of all incidents. While technology like Apple AirTags has helped passengers track their own bags, the "worst" performer is usually an airline undergoing a labor strike or a major IT outage, which can cause thousands of bags to be stranded for days regardless of the carrier's typical reputation.