Who hasn’t heard of a friend, relative, or even themselves losing their luggage in the chaos of travel? A suitcase is personal—it holds all the essentials—and when it goes missing, it can feel like a total nightmare.
Flying is an incredible experience. It’s something that would’ve seemed impossible just 500 years ago. Thanks to the Wright brothers and their inventions, we now soar through the sky like birds and bugs—covering huge distances in a matter of hours.
But while air travel revolutionized how we move around the world, it also came with some baggage (literally). One of the biggest hassles? Luggage issues.
Airlines move massive amounts of passengers, cargo, and bags every day. It’s efficient and profitable, but things do go wrong. And that becomes all too clear when you’re anxiously staring at the baggage carousel, waiting… and waiting… for your suitcase to show up.
Missing suitcase?
It might sound like a simple question—but the stress and frustration it causes are very real. A lost bag can ruin your vacation or business trip in seconds.
And believe it or not, this is more common than you’d think—it happens in airports all around the world. Unfortunately, it’s often out of our hands as travelers.
According to Assist Card reports, about 96% of lost luggage cases in Peru are resolved within the first three days. Globally, in 2016 alone, there were 23 million cases of mishandled baggage. Of those, 79% were delayed, 15% tampered with or had items stolen, and only 6% were actually lost. These incidents are most common in airports across Asia, Europe, and the U.S.
Why does this happen?
There are many reasons bags go missing or don’t arrive on time. The most common cause (49%) is transfer errors during connecting flights. Other reasons include airport restrictions (21%) or problems with bag tags and labeling (15%).
So… what should you do if it happens to you?
If your luggage doesn’t show up, the first step is to calmly but firmly talk to the airline’s staff. Be polite, but stand your ground—your personal items and possibly important documents are at stake.
Filing a report is essential. You’ll need to provide:
Your passport or ID
Your boarding pass
Your baggage claim receipt (the one you got at check-in)
Unfortunately, the process can be slow and frustrating. You likely won’t get your bag back that same day. Most are found within three days and delivered after an international search and rerouting process.
If your bag still doesn’t appear after that time, the airline will start a compensation process for the loss.
Each airline has its own policy for handling lost baggage, so it’s important to stay informed, track updates, and keep all your documents handy.
