What is the baggage problem in Europe?


What is the baggage problem in Europe? Baggage handlers are struggling to keep up with the sudden influx of tourists since COVID restrictions were scrapped. Airlines - which are responsible for your luggage - made thousands of employees redundant at the start of the pandemic, and are now struggling to rehire them in time.


Why are planes cheaper in Europe?

Europe has a geographical advantage However, Europe's much higher density of cities and smaller — previously underused — airports were a natural advantage for the low-budget carriers. They can offer tickets to smaller airports at much lower cost because landing fees there are usually less expensive.


How often is luggage lost in Europe?

The region with the highest rate of mishandled bags in 2022 was Europe, with 15.7 per 1,000 passengers, a threefold increase from the previous year. This compared to 6.35 per 1,000 passengers in North America and three per 1,000 in Asia.


How much does the airport give you if they lose your luggage?

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, you are entitled to compensation for reasonable incidental expenses you incur because of your delayed baggage, up to the maximum liability limits, set by statute. For U.S. domestic flights, this is $3,800 per passenger.


Are European airports struggling?

Some airports and airlines coped better than others, but for many passengers, travelling through Europe was not a positive experience. The main cause of the chaos was staff shortages. Aviation workers were made redundant during the pandemic and hadn't been replaced.


Why are luggages getting lost in Europe?

By Euronews Travel Checked baggage is being lost all over the world due to staff shortages. Here's what you can do to arrive at your destination with your luggage. Lost luggage is piling up at Frankfurt Airport as customers face “disgraceful” queues and last-minute cancellations.


Can I get compensation for delayed baggage?

Under DOT regulations (for domestic travel) and international treaties (for international travel), airlines are required to compensate passengers if their bags are damaged, delayed, or lost.


How rare is it to lose your luggage?

The Points Guy notes that this equated to approximately seven bags out of every 1,000, or 0.7%. American Airlines' average came in slightly higher, at nine per 1,000 or 0.9%. Allegiant performed far better, with less than two bags per 1,000 going missing.


Which airline loses the most luggage 2023?

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.


How can I avoid losing my luggage?

8 ways to prevent your luggage getting lost
  1. While there's no definitive way to stop your luggage from getting lost, there are some steps you can take to give your bags a better chance. Make sure your bag is tagged properly. ...
  2. Make clear where it's going and who owns it. ...
  3. Avoid tight layovers. ...
  4. Make your bag stand out.


Do airlines sell lost luggage?

After 3 months, airlines sell or donate unclaimed luggage. Once the mandatory 90-day period is up, airlines have the green light to pass the items along to a charity or reselling business. That's where the fun for bargain hunters begins!


Are airlines still losing luggage 2023?

During the first three months of 2023, over 721,000 bags checked on domestic flights were mishandled out of 113 million checked bags in total—an average of 0.64 bags per 100 checked bags, per the U.S. Department of Transportation. That's up from 2019, when 0.59 bags were mishandled per 100 checked bags.


Why are so many checked bags getting lost?

The leading cause of lost luggage is the mishandling of the bags between flights or from the sorting office to your airplane.


How often is luggage lost internationally?

The rate of baggage mishandled across the world is also on the rise: up 24% last year, with 8.7 suitcases per 1,000 international passengers not arriving on time.


Are there still luggage problems?

Things were so bad last year, The Guardian called it the “summer of lost luggage,” and the stats back that up. After years of improved baggage arrival rates, a report in May by the aviation data company SITA found the rate of mishandled bags almost doubled globally from 2021 to 2022, to 7.6 bags per 1,000 passengers.


Is luggage still getting lost in Europe?

Europe worst for mishandled baggage, report says
The report said 26 million bags – or 7.6 per 1,000 passengers – were mishandled in 2022, up from 4.35 per 1,000 the previous year.