U.S. AIRLINES MISHANDLE 9,700 BAGS A DAY
More bags were lost, damaged, delayed or pilfered by U.S. airlines last year than in at least eight years, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Ref. https://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/02/17/lost....e.ap/index.html
Anyone reading my Blog would know that I am well versed in this Topic, but I am surprised that it has happened so many times on a daily basis within the US. I do find that travelling in the US causes no problems, but very much so on international flights. Maybe the damage occurs via other countries where the US carriers are also based.
Knock on wood, I haven't had any problems with my luggage while traveling. I was surprised though how many bags are mishandled. My cousins were skycaps at one of the larger airports in the US, and they would tell me about stories of lost luggage, etc, but never in such a high proportion. This was over 6 years ago though and pre-911, so that may have something to do with it.
The numbers reported here are impressive but I don't think in US is worse than anywhere else. I used to travel a lot before having my kid and I fell victim of lost or misplaced luggage several times and in different places, twice in Canada. I suppose it has to do with some airports not being ready to handle an always increasing volume of traffic.