When it comes to air travel, passengers often encounter various unpleasant experiences, with one of the most frustrating being issues related to lost or damaged baggage. This unfortunate occurrence can significantly impact a traveler’s choice of airlines for future journeys, as airlines bear the responsibility of ensuring the safety and care of passengers’ checked luggage.
The handling of baggage by airlines is a crucial factor that influences passengers’ decisions when selecting their preferred carrier. Instances where baggage handling personnel are observed to be less cautious with passengers’ possessions have gained widespread attention on social media, underscoring the significance of this aspect of air travel.
Forbes has compiled a list of airlines that have received the highest number of complaints regarding lost or damaged baggage over the past five years. The objective of this ranking is to provide travelers with valuable information, enabling them to make informed choices and exercise caution when necessary or opt for airlines with a stronger track record in baggage handling.
Ryanair – 954 Complaints
Ryanair, a well-known Irish low-cost carrier, secures the top position on this list, having been the subject of over 950 baggage-related complaints between 2018 and 2022.
British Airways – 844 Complaints
British Airways claims the second position, with a total of 844 complaints related to baggage mishandling reported during the same period.
easyJet – 565 Complaints
easyJet, another prominent British airline, occupies the third spot on the list, with passengers registering 565 complaints about lost or damaged baggage.
It is crucial to note that according to the Civil Aviation Authority, which provided the data for Forbes’ research, airlines featured in this list are obligated to compensate passengers in cases of lost or damaged cabin baggage. However, it is important to emphasize that this study does not take into account the number of passengers served by each airline.
A spokesperson for easyJet provided reassurance to travelers, highlighting that incidents related to baggage are relatively rare. They referred to data from World Tracer, an independent system used by the industry to track baggage, which indicates that easyJet performs exceptionally well in terms of baggage handling within the aviation sector.
Ryanair, on the other hand, challenged Forbes’ methodology, pointing out that it did not consider passenger volume. A representative from Ryanair even asserted that their baggage loss cases are among the lowest, especially given their operation of over 3,200 daily flights to more than 230 destinations. They contended that the comparison translates to one lost or damaged bag for almost every 10,000 passengers.
The Top 10 Airlines with the Most Baggage Complaints in the Last 5 Years (According to Forbes)
Ryanair – 954 Complaints
British Airways – 844 Complaints
easyJet – 565 Complaints
Wizz Air – 552 Complaints
Norwegian – 419 Complaints
Flybe – 297 Complaints
Turkish Airlines – 195 Complaints
Virgin Atlantic – 182 Complaints
Tap Portugal – 160 Complaints
Iberia – 105 Complaints
