WARWICK, R.I., Dec. 18, 2024 – Hundreds of thousands of bags are mishandled by the airlines every year. According to the latest U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) data analyzed by InsureMyTrip researchers, 880,000 pieces of luggage were mishandled between January and April 2024, and in August alone, that number was about 260,000. With 40.99 million bags enplaned during the month, the mishandling of luggage remains a significant concern for travelers.
Airlines with the Highest Percentage of Mishandled Bags
Alaska Airlines – 1.14%
American Airlines – 1.03%
United Airlines – 0.75%
Spirit Airlines – 0.54%
Delta Air – 0.49%
Airlines with the Lowest Percentage of Mishandled Bags
Allegiant Air – 0.20%
Hawaiian Airlines – 0.31%
Southwest Airlines – 0.42%
Frontier Airlines – 0.45%
JetBlue – 0.45%
(*Percentage per 100 bags)
3 Key Benefits of Travel Insurance for Mishandled Baggage
While airlines and the DOT have compensation policies in place, travel insurance offers more comprehensive protection for lost, delayed, or damaged baggage.
Delayed Baggage Essentials
Airlines may refund baggage fees, but travel insurance can help cover the cost of essentials you may need while waiting for delayed luggage. Items like clothing, toiletries, and other necessities can be reimbursed, often beyond the airline’s limits.
Pro Tip: Save all receipts for purchases made during the delay to streamline the claims process.
Protection Beyond the Flight
Travel insurance coverage may extend beyond the airport. If an item is stolen from your luggage at a hotel or on a tour, travel insurance can provide coverage, ensuring you’re protected throughout your trip.
Pro Tip: Carefully review your policy to understand when and where coverage applies, and ensure losses are reported to the appropriate authorities.
Filling Financial Gaps
While airlines may reimburse some costs for necessities during baggage delays, their limits may not cover everything. Travel insurance steps in when those limits are exceeded.
Airlines often exclude liability for high-value or fragile items, such as electronics. Travel insurance may help fill these gaps by offering reimbursement where airlines fall short.
Pro Tip: Take photos of your luggage contents before traveling to document any items that may be lost, damaged, or stolen.
You like options. We do too. It’s simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.
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Treat the globetrotter in your life to gifts that spark their love of adventure and make travel a breeze. From essentials that ease long flights to thoughtful mementos celebrating past journeys, these items bring comfort and joy to every journey. Whether you’re looking for practical gear or pieces that fuel future explorations, you’ll find the perfect gift for every kind of traveler here.
This essential travel accessory has gotten an update. Travel Pillows from trtl offer neck and shoulder support for long flights. It’s soft, lightweight, and oh so comfortable.
Weekender backpacks are easier to carry through the airport compared to a standard duffel bag. The Travel Backpack from tomtoc is carry-on approved, water-resistant, lightweight, and fits your laptop!
Know someone who is a travel shopper or loves souvenirs? This Samsonite foldaway packable duffel bag is perfect for those who might come back from their trip with a bit more than they came with.
There’s nothing worse than checking your bag just to realize it’s overweight. A luggage scale makes an excellent stocking stuffer and a must-have for anyone who travels.
A 4-in-1 travel makeup kit is the ultimate travel hack. This Subtl Beauty stack includes a mirror lid, mini brush, eyeshadow, powder, cream highlighter, and lip and cheek color.
Keep track of all your bags and wallets with AirTags. If something does get lost in the shuffle, you can see exactly where it is. Get one for every piece of luggage!
The gift that travelers and nontravelers both love. A digital frame is the perfect way to display all your travel photos. The Skylight frame allows for easy WiFi photo uploading and a touchscreen display to look through photos.
Budget air travel baggage rules can be hard to navigate. This personal item sized roller luggage takes the guesswork out of it. It has removable wheels to take off before boarding.
The gift for the person who has everything. A Kindle Unlimited subscription offers thousands of books and magazines for on-the-go reading. It will definitely be used.
Compression socks are an underrated travel item. They can be a game changer for leg comfort. These Conrad socks offer graduated compression, which is tighter at the feet and looser at the knee, helping with comfort.
Traveling often means picking one hair tool for the trip. With this 2-in-1 travel curling iron and straightener, no styling or luggage space sacrifices have to be made.
The theme park accessory that makes walking around in hot weather much more enjoyable. Neck fans are a hands-free way to stay cool and this one has thousands of positive reviews.
The ultimate gift, perfect for everyone, is the Airpods Pro2. These offer active noise cancellation. Essentially turning them into the highest quality earplugs to drown out those plane sounds so you can get some rest. They also have amazing audio.
For families that love to travel together, this family passport holder from tomtoc holds up to four passports while being RFID-blocking and water-resistant. It also has holders for an AirTag and your SIM card.
Hate the wired earphones they give out to watch in-flight entertainment? The Airfly Bluetooth Transmitter is a game changer. Easily connect your wireless earphones to enjoy all the entertainment the plane has to offer.
When you are shorter than 5’7, long flights can take a toll on your legs. An airplane footrest is easy to use and makes a huge difference in flight comfort.
An RFID-blocking travel wallet is essential for international trips. This one is designed to keep your items safe and includes an AirTag slot for extra security.
A compact travel steamer is a game changer, especially when traveling for work or an event. No more hoping the hotel has an iron or spending too much vacation time ironing. This steamer weighs less than a pound and heats up in 15 seconds!
Nuun electrolytes tablets are a compact way to bring extra hydration and vitamins with you on the trip. It’s a stocking stuffer that will be appreciated and most definitely used.
A practical stocking stuffer – this universal adapter really is universal. No more guesswork is needed to find out if you have the correct adapter. This adapter works for 150 countries and charges six devices at a time.
A selfie stick extendable tripod makes taking any type of photo a breeze. This one adjusts up to 62″ and comes with a remote to take group photos or selfies without additional hands.
WARWICK, R.I., Dec. 4, 2024 — As travelers gear up for the busy holiday season, navigating the unpredictable flight landscape will be more crucial than ever. New data analyzed by InsureMyTrip researchers reveals which U.S. airports have experienced the highest (and lowest) percentage of delays and cancellations in 2024.
Whether you’re visiting family across the country or jetting off for a winter vacation, knowing which airports to avoid could save you time and frustration during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year.
San Francisco and Buffalo: Travel Hotspots with the Most Disruptions
San Francisco International (SFO) had the highest percentage of delayed flights in 2024, with 37.18% delayed between January and June. Buffalo Niagara International (BUF) saw the highest percentage of cancellations at 2.74%.
Holiday Travel to Florida and Texas? Expect Delays
Several airports in popular holiday destinations like Florida and Texas consistently appeared on the list of top airports for delays. Travelers flying through Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL), Orlando (MCO), Miami (MIA), or Tampa (TPA) in Florida, or Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Austin-Bergstrom (AUS), and San Antonio (SAT) in Texas, should brace for potential delays this holiday season.
Double Trouble in San Francisco and Miami
Both San Francisco International (SFO) and Miami International (MIA) ranked in the top 10 for delays and cancellations. These operational challenges may lead to travel headaches through the end of the year.
Weather Woes Could Hamper Holiday Plans
With weather-related delays on the rise, travelers flying through Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), and Detroit Metropolitan (DTW) should keep an eye on the forecast when making holiday travel plans. These airports experienced the highest percentages of weather-related delays.
Lowest Percentage of Delays and Cancellations: Where to Fly for a Stress-Free Holiday
On a brighter note, Salt Lake City (SLC), Atlanta (ATL), Boise (BOI), and San Jose Mineta International (SJC) were among the airports with the lowest percentage of delays and cancellations — offering smoother travel experiences for those looking to avoid holiday headaches.
Find the latest airport delay and cancellation data HERE.
The Importance of Travel Insurance During the Holiday Rush
As airports become busier during the holidays and flight delays and cancellations become more frequent, the protection offered by travel insurance becomes even more essential. A policy may allow travelers to secure reimbursement for non-refundable trip components such as hotel bookings, tours, concert tickets, cruises, and transportation arrangements (like car rentals) that may be impacted by a flight delay or cancellation.
A Comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy, for example, can provide coverage for unexpected disruptions, including weather-related and other delays, trip cancellation, missed connections, lost/delayed baggage, along with emergency medical and 24-hour assistance.
Bottom Line:
As the holiday season approaches, this data offers a timely reminder for travelers to book strategically, stay informed about potential delays, and have backup plans in place when navigating through busy airports.
Rankings were based on the flight delay and cancellation rates per airport between January and June 2024. Sources include InsureMyTrip and The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). BTS tracks the on-time performance of domestic flights operated by large air carriers.
About InsureMyTrip
You like options. We do too. It’s simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.
