The Worst U.S. Airports for Mishandled Luggage [2025 Data Study]

Nothing sours a trip quite like arriving without your belongings — or discovering they’ve been damaged. So, which U.S. airports and airlines are the biggest culprits when it comes to mishandled and lost luggage?

To find out, we analyzed property complaint data from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), pinpointing the airports and airlines with the highest rates of baggage-related grievances. By ranking them based on complaints about lost, delayed, or damaged property, we uncovered where travelers are most likely to run into issues. Consider this your cheat sheet for navigating your next trip with confidence — or at least packing a stellar carry-on!

The Best and Worst U.S. Airports for Mishandled Baggage

Some airports stand out for baggage mishaps more than others. To uncover the worst offenders, we looked at the number of TSA property complaints over the last 10 years at the 60 busiest U.S. airports, adjusting for passenger volume to ensure fair comparisons across airports of all sizes.

Here are the airports with the most mishandled baggage complaints (per 100K passengers):

1. Orlando International Airport (MCO) — 1.81 complaints per 100K passengers
2. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — 1.72 complaints per 100K passengers
3. Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) — 1.71 complaints per 100K passengers
4. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) — 1.69 complaints per 100K passengers
5. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) — 1.68 complaints per 100K passengers

Orlando (MCO) tops the list with 1.81 TSA property complaints per 100,000 passengers — 63% more than the study’s national average. With its high volume of Disney travelers and bags packed for extended family trips, Orlando likely sees more mishaps simply due to the sheer number of bags being handled. 

New York (JFK), Palm Beach (PBI), and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) also appear in the top 5 worst airports for mishandled baggage, with 1.72, 1.71, and 1.68 property complaints per 100,000 passengers, respectively. JFK’s position may be tied to its complexity as a major international hub with frequent connections, while PBI and FLL likely share similar challenges to MCO with an influx of vacationers. In fact, 5 of the top 10 worst airports for mishandled baggage are located in Florida. 

Here are the airports with the least mishandled baggage complaints (per 100K passengers):

1. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) — 0.31 complaints per 100K passengers
2. Kansas City International Airport (MCI) — 0.42 complaints per 100K passengers
3. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) — 0.58 complaints per 100K passengers
4. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) — tied at 0.59 complaints per 100K passengers

San Francisco (SFO) claims the top spot with just 0.31 TSA property complaints per 100,000 passengers — 72% fewer than the study’s national average. As a major international gateway, SFO’s low complaint rate might reflect investments in advanced baggage handling systems and technology to accommodate its tech-savvy passenger base, such as its deployment of automated self-bag drop solutions. These systems can help minimize human error and ensure smoother, more reliable baggage handling.

Kansas City (MCI) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD) also rank among the best, with 0.42 and 0.58 complaints per 100,000 passengers, respectively. MCI’s smaller size and streamlined layout likely help minimize luggage errors, while ORD’s ranking is particularly noteworthy given its status as one of the nation’s busiest hubs. Similarly, Charlotte (CLT) and Minneapolis (MSP), both tied at 0.59 complaints, may benefit from their reputation for operational efficiency, ensuring fewer headaches for travelers checking bags.

The Worst U.S. Airlines for Mishandled Baggage

Good news for travelers: airlines seem to be stepping up their game when it comes to baggage handling. In 2024, mishandled baggage — including lost, delayed, diverted, or damaged items — dropped by 7.6% industry-wide compared to 2023, hinting that airlines are paying attention to consumer frustrations and prioritizing smoother, more efficient operations. 

Despite the overall improvement, some airlines still struggle more than others when it comes to keeping baggage on track. Here are the top 5 U.S. carriers with the most mishandled bags (per 100 enplaned bags):

1. American Airlines — 0.90 mishandled bags per 100 enplaned bags
2. United Airlines — 0.68 mishandled bags per 100 enplaned bags
3. Alaska Airlines — 0.64 mishandled bags per 100 enplaned bags
4. Delta Air Lines — 0.49 mishandled bags per 100 enplaned bags
5. Southwest Airlines — 0.44 mishandled bags per 100 enplaned bags

In 2024, American Airlines took the unfortunate top spot, with 0.90 mishandled bags per 100 enplaned bags — a slight increase of 1.5% from the previous year. Despite its size and resources as one of the nation’s largest carriers, American Airlines’ standing highlights the operational challenges of managing high passenger volumes across a vast network. United Airlines was the second-worst airline for mishandled baggage in 2024 but saw a significant improvement from 2023, reducing its mishandled baggage rate by 16.7% year-over-year to 0.68 mishandled bags per 100 enplaned bags.

At the other end of the spectrum, JetBlue Airways demonstrated remarkable progress, achieving the largest improvement in baggage handling among major airlines. Its mishandled bag rate plummeted by 34.8%, dropping from 0.56 mishandled bags per 100 enplaned bags in 2023 to 0.36 in 2024.

While most airlines saw year-over-year declines in mishandled baggage rates, Allegiant Air was an exception, with its rate surging by 46.2%. Although its mishandled bag rate remains the lowest overall at 0.24 mishandled bags per 100 enplaned bags, the increase may indicate growing pains as the airline scales its operations.

Methodology

To determine the airports with the most and least mishandled baggage complaints, we analyzed property complaint data from the Transportation Security Administration’s FOIA Electronic Reading Room at the 60 busiest U.S. airports from 2015 to 2023. To ensure fair comparisons across airports of varying sizes, we normalized the data by comparing the total number of property-related complaints to annual passenger volumes during the same period.

For airlines, we reviewed data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report, examining mishandled bags per 100 enplaned bags from January to September 2024 for the 10 largest U.S. carriers. These figures were compared to 2023 to calculate the year-over-year percentage change in mishandled baggage rates. Mishandled baggage includes items that are lost, delayed, diverted, or damaged.

Final Thoughts

Understanding which airports and airlines are more likely to mishandle baggage isn’t just trivia — it’s actionable knowledge for savvy travelers. Knowing the hotspots for luggage issues can help travelers plan ahead, whether by redeeming points for priority baggage services, choosing airports with better track records, or using travel insurance purchased with rewards to cover unexpected mishaps.