Time and time again, studies come out that remind us just how hectic the airport experience can truly be in South Florida. Whether it’s flight delays, cancellations or maintenance issues (a $9 billion modernization plan is underway), flying in and out of Miami can feel like a challenge. Well, hold on to your suitcases and carry-ons because a new analysis by California-based packing company Arka named Miami International Airport as the worst in the world for lost luggage.
MIA crowned worst airport for misplaced baggage
To determine which airport is a significant contributor to baggage mishaps, Arka sourced data for passenger volume and online searches for “lost and found services.” To make comparisons between the airports fair, the data was adjusted to reflect searches per million passengers. What they concluded is that MIA, handling 52 million passengers each year as the leading U.S. gateway for Latin America and the Caribbean, reported around 306 lost-and-found searches per million flights. It also had a baggage mishandling rate of 5.5 per 1,000 passengers — among the highest in North America.
Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport ranked second, with approximately 20,500 lost-and-found searches annually. That’s 5,000 more than any other airport. But like MIA, the ranking earned it a mismanagement rate of 5.5.
Rounding out the top three was an airport outside of the U.S., Singapore Changi Airport, with 265 searches per million flights and a lower mishandling rate of 3.1 per 1,000 passengers.
“Losing luggage can quickly turn a trip upside down, and some airports clearly struggle more than others when it comes to baggage handling,” an Arka spokesperson said in a statement sent to Travel + Leisure. “It’s important for travelers to be aware of where these challenges exist, so they can plan accordingly and take extra precautions.”
Which are the top 5 worst airports for lost luggage?
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
- Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
- Frankfurt am Main (FRA)
- Dubai International Airport (DXB)
- London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
- Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)