The dialectic of lost luggage while QR Lug secures your baggages during air flights

According to Euromonitor, an independent provider of strategic market research, in 2013, baggage fees contributed worldwide to 20% of total revenues of airlines. This explains the attention paid to luggage management, which is generally carried out in parallel with that of passengers. We understand why it is so essential to get as little loss as possible. The US Department of Transportation publishes monthly reports to help consumers with information on the quality of services provided by airlines. These documents are generally released by the end of the second week of each month, including statistics on flight delays, consumer complaints and improper handling baggage:

MISHANDLED BAGGAGE REPORTS FILED BY PASSENGERS U.S. AIRLINES
2017/1					2016/1
Rank	Airline	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers
1	Virgin America	2,560	1,759,452	1.45	1,531	1,709,646	0.90
2	Spirit Airlines	7,918	5,141,860	1.54	10,815	4,557,115	2.37
3	Jetblue Airw Ays	13,333	8,148,072	1.64	13,416	7,667,007	1.75
4	Alaska Airlines	9,792	5,586,007	1.75	11,578	5,337,510	2.17
5	Delta Air Lines	57,751	28,061,396	2.06	53,663	27,657,874	1.94
6	United Airlines	48,420	18,310,433	2.64	45,469	16,671,979	2.73
7	Southwest Airlines	93,723	35,291,377	2.66	100,464	34,480,308	2.91
8	American Airlines	82,727	28,713,366	2.88	107,032	29,075,764	3.68
9	Hawaiian Airlines	7,471	2,453,876	3.04	5,893	2,467,152	2.39
10	Frontier Airlines	13,445	3,479,876	3.86	8,751	3,050,896	2.87
11	Skywest Airlines	28,690	7,365,488	3.9	24,435	6,828,375	3.58
12	Expressjet Airlines	18,189	4,154,238	4.38	22,633	5,191,482	4.36
Totals		384,019	148,465,441	2.59	405,680	144,695,108	2.80
2016					2015
Rank	Airline	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers
1	Virgin America	7,985	7,738,228	1.03	5,741	6,848,642	0.84
2	Jetblue Airways	52,114	32,323,728	1.61	53,920	29,858,553	1.81
3	Alaska Airlines	38,361	23,346,795	1.64	74,452	22,128,159	3.36
4	Delta Air Lines	221,607	122,195,140	1.81	245,272	117,696,029	2.08
5	Spirit Airlines	42,438	19,616,054	2.16	41,618	16,168,873	2.57
6	United Airlines	200,329	76,903,504	2.60	231,501	72,086,699	3.21
7	Hawaiian Airlines	27,261	10,226,332	2.67	26,312	9,927,254	2.65
8	Southwest Airlines	451,006	151,153,238	2.98	478,327	144,680,828	3.31
9	Skywest Airlines	100,900	30,013,040	3.36	117,196	28,917,938	4.05
10	American Airlines	412,450	121,900,816	3.38	386,649	97,135,595	3.98
11	Frontier Airlines	55,141	14,387,958	3.83	37,050	12,037,050	3.08
12	Expressjet Airlines	91,383	21,186,018	4.31	124,556	24,625,754	5.06
Totals		1,700,975	630,990,851	2.70	1,822,594	582,111,374	3.13
2015					2014
Rank	Airline	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers
1	Virgin America	5,741	6,848,642	0.84	5,973	6,312,344	0.95
2	Jetblue Airways	53,920	29,858,553	1.81	54,878	27,400,149	2
3	Delta Airlines	245,272	117,696,029	2.08	250,230	108,668,163	2.3
4	Spirit Airlines	41,618	16,168,873	2.57
5	Hawaiian Airlines	26,312	9,927,254	2.65	20,875	9,493,537	2.2
6	Frontier Airlines	37,050	12,037,050	3.08	20,416	11,323,177	1.8
7	United Airlines	231,501	72,086,699	3.21	248,098	67,602,164	3.67
8	Southwest Airlines	478,327	144,680,828	3.31	524,437	129,051,340	4.06
9	Alaska Airlines	74,452	22,128,159	3.36	53,931	19,821,204	2.72
10	American Airlines	386,649	97,135,595	3.98	269,372	69,230,371	3.89
11	Skywest Airlines	117,196	28,917,938	4.05	127,931	27,257,086	4.69
12	Expressjet Airlines	124,556	24,625,754	5.06	161,295	28,752,921	5.61
13	Envoy Air	101,772	11,950,332	8.52	138,667	15,366,591	9.02
Totals		1,924,366	594,061,706	3.24	1,876,103	520,279,047	3.61
2014					2013
Rank	Airline	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers
1	Virgin America	5,973	6,312,344	0.95	6,031	6,185,894	0.97
2	Frontier Airlines	20,416	11,323,177	1.80	21,921	10,210,546	2.15
3	Jetblue Airw Ays	54,878	27,400,149	2.00	51,040	26,746,981	1.91
4	Hawaiian Airlines	20,875	9,493,537	2.20	20,791	9,256,661	2.25
5	Delta Air Lines	250,230	108,668,163	2.30	221,724	101,128,623	2.19
6	Alaska Airlines	53,931	19,821,204	2.72	54,318	18,491,517	2.94
7	United Airlines	248,098	67,602,164	3.67	236,326	68,151,609	3.47
8	American Airlines	459,719	121,961,953	3.77
	American	269,372	69,230,371	3.89	205,060	67,810,516	3.02
	Us Airways	190,347	52,731,582	3.61	130,138	51,715,215	2.52
9	Southwest Airlines	558,232	136,335,826	4.09
	Southwest Airlines	524,437	129,051,340	4.06	439,323	118,201,815	3.72
	Airtran Airways	33,795	7,284,486	4.64	63,302	17,060,737	3.71
10	Skywest Airlines	127,931	27,257,086	4.69	130,946	26,587,930	4.93
11	Expressjet Airlines	161,295	28,752,921	5.61	152,287	31,133,001	4.89
12	Envoy Air	138,667	15,366,591	9.02	99,412	16,847,529	5.9
Totals		2,100,245	580,295,115	3.62	1,832,619	569,528,574	3.22
2013					2012
Rank	Airline	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers
1	Virgin America	6,031	6,185,894	0.97	5,313	6,073,451	0.87
2	Jetblue Airways	51,040	26,746,981	1.91	48,346	25,731,611	1.88
3	Frontier Airlines	21,921	10,210,546	2.15	22,618	10,177,635	2.22
4	Delta Air Lines	221,724	101,128,623	2.19	205,943	98,072,571	2.10
5	Hawaiian Airlines	20,791	9,256,661	2.25	26,021	9,032,567	2.88
6	Us Airways	130,138	51,715,215	2.52	105,730	49,350,915	2.14
7	Endeavor Air	34,238	12,876,818	2.66
8	Alaska Airlines	54,318	18,491,517	2.94	50,906	17,363,123	2.93
9	American Airlines	205,060	67,810,516	3.02	198,501	67,869,244	2.92
10	United Airlines	236,326	68,151,609	3.47	276,875	71,569,901	3.87
11	Airtran Airways	63,302	17,060,737	3.71	33,844	21,384,197	1.58
12	Southwest Airlines	439,323	118,201,815	3.72	355,149	115,413,258	3.08
13	Mesa Airlines	35,645	8,401,733	4.24	36,416	7,788,981	4.68
14	Expressjet Airlines	152,287	31,133,001	4.89	169,566	30,743,315	5.52
15	Skywest Airlines	130,946	26,587,930	4.93	135,863	25,830,946	5.26
16	American Eagle Airlines	99,412	16,847,529	5.90	105,564	18,211,607	5.80
Totals		1,902,502	590,807,125	3.22	1,776,655	574,613,322	3.09
2012					2011
Rank	Airline	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers
1	Virgin America	5,313	6,073,451	0.87
2	Airtran Airways	33,844	21,384,197	1.58	40,401	24,721,745	1.63
3	Jetblue Airways	48,346	25,731,611	1.88	52,454	23,711,065	2.21
4	Delta Air Lines	205,943	98,072,571	2.10	254,210	95,445,093	2.66
5	Us Airways	105,730	49,350,915	2.14	129,140	47,857,988	2.70
6	Frontier Airlines	22,618	10,177,635	2.22	23,266	10,514,361	2.21
7	Hawaiian Airlines	26,021	9,032,567	2.88	22,244	8,455,059	2.63
8	American Airlines	198,501	67,869,244	2.92	242,695	68,350,420	3.55
9	Alaska Airlines	50,906	17,363,123	2.93	47,563	16,600,697	2.87
10	Southwest Airlines	355,149	115,413,258	3.08	413,538	113,258,197	3.65
11	United Airlines	276,875	71,569,901	3.87	152,519	41,665,059	3.66
12	Mesa Airlines	36,416	7,788,981	4.68	42,649	8,748,648	4.87
13	Skywest Airlines	135,863	25,830,946	5.26	97,832	23,710,905	4.13
14	Expressjet Airlines	169,566	30,743,315	5.52	79,444	14,389,994	5.52
15	American Eagle Airlines	105,564	18,211,607	5.80	122,978	16,798,134	7.32
Totals		1,776,655	574,613,322	3.09	1,720,933	514,227,365	3.35
2011					2010
Rank	Airline	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers
1	Airtran Airways	40,401	24,721,745	1.63	40,673	24,914,028	1.63
2	Jetblue Airways	52,454	23,711,065	2.21	54,103	21,774,499	2.48
3	Frontier Airlines	23,266	10,514,361	2.21	24,544	9,508,989	2.58
4	Hawaiian Airlines	22,244	8,455,059	2.63	18,977	8,518,682	2.23
5	Delta Air Lines	254,210	95,445,093	2.66	327,868	93,828,968	3.49
6	Us Airways	129,140	47,857,988	2.70	119,472	46,737,693	2.56
7	Alaska Airlines	47,563	16,600,697	2.87	48,504	15,502,813	3.13
8	Continental Airlines	109,288	32,641,166	3.35	84,576	31,919,358	2.65
9	American Airlines	242,695	68,350,420	3.55	262,551	68,716,186	3.82
10	Southwest Airlines	413,538	113,258,197	3.65	378,511	109,076,175	3.47
11	United Airlines	152,519	41,665,059	3.66	154,630	45,537,571	3.40
12	Skywest Airlines	97,832	23,710,905	4.13	112,779	23,890,608	4.72
13	Expressjet Airlines	77,548	16,075,967	4.82	74,001	15,323,951	4.83
14	Mesa Airlines	42,649	8,748,648	4.87	37,127	9,347,008	3.97
15	Atlantic Southeast Airlines	79,444	14,389,994	5.52	94,392	14,057,289	6.71
16	American Eagle Airlines	122,978	16,798,134	7.32	113,326	15,843,500	7.15
Totals		1,907,769	562,944,498	3.39	1,946,034	554,497,318	3.51
2010					2009
Rank	Airline	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers
1	Airtran Airways	40,673	24,914,028	1.63	40,931	24,565,776	1.67
2	Hawaiian Airlines	18,977	8,518,682	2.23	16,075	8,465,984	1.9
3	Jetblue Airways	54,103	21,774,499	2.48	53,262	20,788,303	2.56
4	Us Airways	119,472	46,737,693	2.56	139,632	46,057,753	3.03
5	Frontier Airlines	24,544	9,508,989	2.58	23,782	9,524,184	2.5
6	Continental Airlines	84,576	31,919,358	2.65	90,690	33,252,683	2.73
7	Alaska Airlines	48,504	15,502,813	3.13	58,475	14,692,489	3.98
8	United Airlines	154,630	45,537,571	3.40	196,356	47,948,918	4.1
9	Southwest Airlines	378,511	109,076,175	3.47	357,525	104,235,484	3.43
10	Delta Air Lines	327,868	93,828,968	3.49	284,136	58,116,315	4.89
11	American Airlines	262,551	68,716,186	3.82	299,257	69,208,708	4.32
12	Mesa Airlines	37,127	9,347,008	3.97	51,437	11,387,988	4.52
13	Skywest Airlines	112,779	23,890,608	4.72	122,072	21,467,249	5.69
14	Expressjet Airlines	74,001	15,323,951	4.83	46,676	11,931,767	3.91
15	Comair	34,055	6,449,801	5.28	38,516	6,379,831	6.04
16	Pinnacle Airlines	65,689	10,432,054	6.30	59,794	11,027,102	5.42
17	Atlantic Southeast Airlines	94,392	14,057,289	6.71	104,215	13,235,879	7.87
18	American Eagle Airlines	113,326	15,843,500	7.15	120,994	15,547,802	7.78
Totals		2,045,778	571,379,173	3.58	2,103,825	527,834,215	3.99
2009					2008
Rank	Airline	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers
1	Airtran Airways	40,931	24,565,776	1.67	73,088	25,465,698	2.87
2	Hawaiian Airlines	16,075	8,465,984	1.90	23,573	7,947,315	2.97
3	Frontier Airlines	23,782	9,524,184	2.50	46,461	10,359,873	4.48
4	Jetblue Airways	53,262	20,788,303	2.56	74,020	21,361,147	3.47
5	Northwest Airlines	89,886	33,522,302	2.68	138,919	39,581,942	3.51
6	Continental Airlines	90,690	33,252,683	2.73	142,961	36,027,443	3.97
7	Us Airways	139,632	46,057,753	3.03	240,285	50,388,949	4.77
8	Southwest Airlines	357,525	104,235,484	3.43	480,231	104,981,092	4.57
9	Expressjet Airlines	46,676	11,931,767	3.91	89,509	14,018,563	6.39
10	Alaska Airlines	58,475	14,692,489	3.98	69,467	15,546,453	4.47
11	United Airlines	196,356	47,948,918	4.10	283,357	54,114,611	5.24
12	American Airlines	299,257	69,208,708	4.32	424,796	74,446,833	5.71
13	Mesa Airlines	51,437	11,387,988	4.52	91,538	11,608,433	7.89
14	Delta Air Lines	284,136	58,116,315	4.89	370,120	61,910,660	5.98
15	Pinnacle Airlines	59,794	11,027,102	5.42	77,324	10,237,024	7.55
16	Skywest Airlines	122,072	21,467,249	5.69	160,210	21,041,977	7.61
17	Comair	38,516	6,379,831	6.04	68,186	8,190,831	8.32
18	American Eagle Airlines	120,994	15,547,802	7.78	160,730	16,244,392	9.89
19	Atlantic Southeast Airlines	104,215	13,235,879	7.87	121,171	12,344,839	9.82
Totals		2,193,711	561,356,517	3.91	3,135,946	595,818,075	5.26
2008					2007
Rank	Airline	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers
1	Airtran Airways	73,088	25,465,698	2.87	99,389	24,466,517	4.06
2	Hawaiian Airlines	23,573	7,947,315	2.97	24,369	7,152,928	3.41
3	Jetblue Airways	74,020	21,361,147	3.47	111,400	21,289,009	5.23
4	Northwest Airlines	138,919	39,581,942	3.51	224,879	44,904,152	5.01
5	Continental Airlines	142,961	36,027,443	3.97	207,170	38,853,675	5.33
6	Alaska Airlines	69,467	15,546,453	4.47	102,150	15,985,172	6.39
7	Frontier Airlines	46,461	10,359,873	4.48	66,323	10,770,347	6.16
8	Southwest Airlines	476,902	104,758,285	4.55	612,347	104,303,658	5.87
9	Us Airways	240,285	50,388,949	4.77	455,303	53,772,419	8.47
10	United Airlines	283,357	54,114,611	5.24	340,784	59,151,171	5.76
11	American Airlines	424,796	74,446,833	5.71	573,748	79,145,366	7.25
12	Delta Air Lines	370,120	61,910,660	5.98	488,334	64,228,122	7.6
13	Expressjet Airlines	89,509	14,018,563	6.39	134,023	15,692,966	8.54
14	Pinnacle Airlines	77,324	10,237,024	7.55	93,017	9,739,495	9.55
15	Skywest Airlines	160,210	21,041,977	7.61	241,076	22,187,771	10.87
16	Mesa Airlines	91,538	11,608,433	7.89	140,440	13,430,547	10.46
17	Comair	68,186	8,190,831	8.32	106,812	9,370,937	11.4
18	Atlantic Southeast Airlines	121,171	12,344,839	9.82	134,367	11,953,427	11.24
19	American Eagle Airlines	160,730	16,244,392	9.89	247,800	18,293,243	13.55
Totals		3,132,617	595,595,268	5.26	4,403,731	624,690,922	7.05
2007					2006
Rank	Airline	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers	Total Baggage Reports	Enplaned Passengers	Reports per 1,000 Passengers
1	Hawaiian Airlines	24,369	7,152,928	3.41	19,619	6,256,908	3.14
2	Aloha Airlines	15,923	4,108,775	3.88	13,993	2,815,205	4.97
3	Airtran Airways	99,389	24,466,517	4.06	97,537	20,672,940	4.72
4	Northwest Airlines	224,879	44,904,152	5.01	212,148	46,139,348	4.6
5	Jetblue Airways	111,400	21,289,009	5.23	76,442	18,709,400	4.09
6	Continental Airlines	207,170	38,853,675	5.33	178,605	37,544,152	4.76
7	United Airlines	340,784	59,151,171	5.76	339,714	59,820,531	5.68
8	Southwest Airlines	612,347	104,303,658	5.87	525,903	98,455,561	5.34
9	Frontier Airlines	66,323	10,770,347	6.16	51,358	9,917,661	5.18
10	Alaska Airlines	102,150	15,985,172	6.39	88,746	15,547,711	5.71
11	American Airlines	573,748	79,145,366	7.25	504,535	79,700,546	6.33
12	Delta Air Lines	488,334	64,228,122	7.6	456,200	66,311,396	6.88
13	Us Airways	455,303	53,772,419	8.47	409,600	51,954,212	7.88
14	Expressjet Airlines	134,023	15,692,966	8.54	148,716	16,597,068	8.96
15	Pinnacle Airlines	93,017	9,739,495	9.55
16	Mesa Airlines	140,440	13,430,547	10.46	144,507	13,693,224	10.55
17	Skywest Airlines	241,076	22,187,771	10.87	201,060	19,795,138	10.16
18	Atlantic Southeast Airlines	134,367	11,953,427	11.24	204.,397	11,765,493	17.37
19	Comair	106,812	9,370,937	11.4	127,930	10,674,855	11.98
20	American Eagle Airlines	247,800	18,293,243	13.55	269,604	18,692,559	14.42
Totals		4,419,654	628,799,697	7.03	4,070,614	605,063,908	6.73

In March 2017, 2.24‰ complaints were registered on US national airlines for loss of luggage, a decrease from the previous month but with a declining volume of traffic. However, in the first quarter of 2017, the number of complaints of 2.59‰ is also down from the previous year. Loss of luggage is in 3rd place among all categories of damage. Comparisons are misleading, but we can see an equal effort to reduce the loss of luggage in airlines and infant mortality around the world. Note that the figures obtained for different countries correspond to the degree of technological and capitalist development of the different airlines, those with a higher level of loss eventually disappearing or being absorbed by the best companies.

On the other hand, if these metrics are provided according the number of complaints, many passengers are putted off by procedural difficulties. Alternatively, airlines are free to invoke a limit on their proposed settlement, under the 1999 Montreal Convention basis. Current limits are $ 3,400 per domestic passenger and 1,131 special drawing rights ($ 1,500) per passenger for international flights. The handling market represents $ 2,74 billion in 2013 and expect growth of 2,1% through 2023 (The Global Airport Baggage and Cargo Handling, Frost & Sullivan, 2014) :

Baggage handling is essential to airport operations and can cause complications in the event of failure, ranging from serveral passengers not receiving their bags to widespread disruption of airport operations, including flight cancellations and the ensuing domino effect on both airlines and passengers.

Meanwhile, the situation depends on both airlines and airports. Big hubs have invested in modern handling systems that includes screening technologies. However, failures increase with traffic, while in so many countries in Europe, most airports can not provide the same level of reliability in baggage handling. The European Union has more than 150 airports with a normal capacity of more than one million passengers per year. While mega air hubs such as London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt account for a disproportionate share of total passenger volume, smaller regional airports retain their importance, carrying more passengers in 2015 than airports on each 5 to 10 million and 10-20 million normal capacity of passengers:

As traffic increases, the level of risk at an airport increases as well. For example, a cyber attack on the airlines or airport management systems could seriously impact and disrupt the air traffic for a long time. As a result, airport invest in security equipment (physical security) as well as cyber security to prevent security threats.

Because of this contradiction, it is not possible to consider much lower loss rates in luggage management than those currently observed:

By successive manipulations, the barcodes are damaged, torn off or erased […] this then makes fall the reading rate to 70%.

For the far-sighted traveler, it is important to protect himself against the loss that inevitably involve luggage handling, especially since the loss of its own bags does not stop at the exit of the last airport. It is fortunately possible to avoid the nasty surprises with a new tracking system that you can download on our website.