- Surprisingly, New York ranks as the worst airport for luggage, followed for the second year by Tunis.
- Lufthansa and easyJet are the most affected airlines.
- 62% of complaints pertain to damage, and 13% to baggage loss.
Rome, September 10, 2024 – Data from the period June 1st to September 1st, 2024, reveals a shift in the rankings of airlines and airports where passengers experienced the most baggage issues.
“During the summer of 2023, emerging countries dominated the map of risky airlines and destinations for luggage, while this year, the data collected by Sostravel.com’s network show more critical situations in developed countries, with Lufthansa and New York being responsible for the greatest disruptions to passengers,” stated Edoardo Zarghetta of Sostravel.com.
Damaged, Lost, and Delayed Luggage in Summer 2024:
The percentage of damaged luggage rose by 12% (to 62%) compared to summer 2023. Overall, lost luggage cases decreased (13%), as did delayed deliveries (22%) and delayed deliveries with damage (4%).
More Problems Compared to Last Summer:
The data collected during the summer reveal an increase in the absolute percentage of damaged, lost, and delayed luggage compared to 2023. Despite advances in luggage tracking technology, improved airport staff training, and enhanced security measures, the ever-growing air traffic sometimes outweighs the technological and operational improvements made by airlines and airports.
Airports:
While it may seem surprising to find one of America’s major airports topping the list for worst luggage management, it’s worth noting that between July 18th and 19th, hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed at New York airports following a global Microsoft outage caused by an update from CrowdStrike (a cybersecurity company), impacting around 8.5 million IT systems.
Airlines:
The negative performance of Lufthansa also has a reasonable explanation, as the airline sells transit tickets in Italy through German airports, with final destinations worldwide. In fact, 100% of the cases recorded by Sostravel.com for Lufthansa during the summer involved at least one stopover, 16% involved two stopovers, and 21% even had three stopovers. The correlation between the number of connections and baggage issues is significant, as each additional stopover increases the risk of lost or mishandled luggage during transfers between flights.
Tips for Passengers:
It is always wise to pack essential items in your carry-on luggage and purchase the Lost Luggage Concierge tracking service from Sostravel.com, which offers impeccable baggage search, management, and return services in the event of luggage-related problems.
Sostravel.com Lost Luggage Index:
Sostravel.com’s proprietary data shows the routes, airlines, and airports where luggage is more or less likely to reunite with its owners.
More Information on Sostravel.com:
Sostravel.com S.p.A. is a travel service company listed in Milan (BIT) and New York (SOSAF), managing the Sostravel and Flio apps, as well as the platforms www.sostravel.com and www.amare.travel.
A digital tour operator and travel technology company, Sostravel.com develops proprietary digital travel solutions, such as the Lost Luggage Concierge for luggage protection and recovery, and Dr. Travel, a telemedicine service designed for travelers.
Over 1 million travelers worldwide have used Sostravel.com as a digital travel companion to find travel deals and obtain information to make their trips more enjoyable.
Contact
Edoardo Zarghetta
Tel +44 7795 106913
