The 10 airlines that got better — and worse — at handling bags during this year's busy season
Summer is the airline industry’s busy season, when sustained passenger volumes tend to be at their highest. But with greater traffic comes more baggage, and with more baggage comes more opportunity to mishandle baggage. Based on a Quartz analysis of Department of Transportation data for mishandled baggage — which the government defines as checked luggage “lost, damaged, delayed, and pilfered” — this is how much airlines stepped their game. In some cases, airline performance was a step down.
Take a look at which airlines did better and which ones did worse when it came to baggage mishandling.
Better: United Airlines
2.1 bags better
During the summer of 2024, United mishandled 7.4 bags per thousand it enplaned. That rate is 2.1 bags better than in 2023. At the rate of baggage that the company dealt with this year, that means it mishandled about 41,300 fewer bags than it would have at the old rate.
Better: JetBlue Airways
2 bags better
During the summer of 2024, JetBlue mishandled 3.9 bags per thousand it enplaned. That rate is 2 bags better than in 2023. At the rate of baggage that the company dealt with this year, that means it mishandled about 6,900 fewer bags than it would have at the old rate.
Better: Hawaiian Airlines
2 bags better
During the summer of 2024, Hawaiian mishandled 3.2 bags per thousand it enplaned. That rate is 2 bags better than in 2023. At the rate of baggage that the company dealt with this year, that means it mishandled about 3,300 fewer bags than it would have at the old rate.
Better: Frontier Airlines
1 bag better
During the summer of 2024, Frontier mishandled 4.9 bags per thousand it enplaned. That rate is 1 bag better than in 2023. At the rate of baggage that the company dealt with this year, that means it mishandled about 2,300 fewer bags than it would have at the old rate.
Better: Southwest Airlines
0.6 bags better
During the summer of 2024, Southwest mishandled 4.5 bags per thousand it enplaned. That rate is 0.6 bags better than in 2023. At the rate of baggage that the company dealt with this year, that means it mishandled about 20,900 fewer bags than it would have at the old rate.
Better: Spirit Airlines
0.1 bags better
During the summer of 2024, Spirit mishandled 5.3 bags per thousand it enplaned. That rate is 0.1 bags better than in 2023. At the rate of baggage that the company dealt with this year, that means it mishandled about 500 fewer bags than it would have at the old rate.
Even: Allegiant Air
No change
During the summer of 2024, Allegiant mishandled 1.8 bags per thousand it enplaned. That rate is the same as in 2023. Still, at the rate of baggage that the company dealt with this year, that means it mishandled about 10 fewer bags than it would have at the old rate.
Worse: Delta Air Lines
0.1 bags worse
During the summer of 2024, Delta mishandled 5.9 bags per thousand it enplaned. That rate is 0.1 bags worse than in 2023. At the rate of baggage that the company dealt with this year, that means it mishandled about 2,700 more bags than it would have at the old rate.
Worse: American Airlines
0.1 bags worse
During the summer of 2024, American mishandled 9.8 bags per thousand it enplaned. That rate is 0.1 bags worse than in 2023. At the rate of baggage that the company dealt with this year, that means it mishandled about 3,500 more bags than it would have at the old rate.
Worse: Alaska Airlines
1.1 bags worse
During the summer of 2024, the carrier mishandled 7.6 bags per thousand it enplaned. That rate is 1.1 bags better than in 2023. At the rate of baggage that the company dealt with this year, that means it mishandled about 8,700 more bags than it would have at the old rate.
