This is the airport that is most likely to lose your luggage
Nothing ruins your holiday quicker than arriving at your destination only to find out that your luggage didn't make it.
But with 26 million bags being handled in airports each year, it's bound to happen.
A new study has found which airports around the world are most likely to lose your luggage, with a surprising destination coming in third place.
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There's nothing worse than losing your luggage. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Arka, a US shipping company, has crunched the numbers to identify which airports globally are most prone to baggage issues.
The title of "worst hub for handling luggage" went to Miami International Airport.
This airport in Florida, USA, is a popular gateway for travellers heading on Caribbean or Latin American cruises.
According to the survey, about 306 bags are lost for every million flights, which is about 5.5 bags per 1000 passengers.
Coming in at number two is Chicago O'Hare International Airport, a US hub which saw 80 million passengers in 2024.
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Singapore's Changi Airport ranked third. Supplied
Surprisingly, Singapore's Changi Airport is number three on the list. Changi has been voted the world's best airport 13 times, with extremely high traveller satisfaction.
It sees a total of 67 million passengers per year.
The survey analysed passenger volume and online searches for "lost and found services" - the results were adjusted to reflect searches per million passengers.
"Some airports clearly struggle more than others when it comes to baggage handling," said a spokesperson for Arka.
Clearly label your bag with your name and information. Getty Images/iStockphoto
How to stop your luggage from being lost
There are a few things travellers can do to minimise the risk of being left luggage-less at baggage claim.
Put a sturdy baggage ID tag on your bag
Write your name, contact number, and email. Sometimes, paper bag tags can be ripped off or damaged in transit. Having a sturdy tag on your bag can make it much easier for airline workers to return it to you.
Remove any extra straps
These can get caught up while travelling along conveyor belts, leading to your bag ending up in the wrong place. If you're checking in a backpack, make sure all the straps are tucked in or zipped away.
Similarly, don't tie a ribbon onto your suitcase - this can interfere with scanning and cause your bag to miss its flight.
Remove any old tags or stickers. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Take a photo of your bag before checking in
OK, this won't prevent your luggage from going missing, but it's really helpful to have if you have to contact the lost property department. Having a photo of your bag is a lot more useful than a description of a "red, medium-sized suitcase".
Remove all the old baggage stickers from previous flights
Having more than one sticker on your bag can really confuse the automated baggage scanner. The last thing you want is for your bag to end up in manual processing, which could mean your bag doesn't make it to the flight.
