After this week's American Airlines baggage problems at JFK Airport in New York, we took a look at how the major airlines stack up in regards to baggage handling. According to the DOT, American had the worst record in May, the most recent month available, with 5.82 bags delayed, lost or damaged for every 1,000 passengers. AirTran had the best record for the month, with 2.78 bags mishandled.
We included the numbers with a story in this morning's Star-Telegram on how new baggage check fees may be increasing customer expectations when it comes to how well airlines handle luggage. (Keep reading this post for the full story.)
It is worth noting that overall, the numbers are quite low. Even on American, more than 99 percent of bags were transported with no problems in May.
Still, it's a major headache if you're among the unlucky ones who finds themselves far from home without their suitcase.






