By Rich Tomaselli
Despite what you might think, and despite what looks like a staggering number of reported cases – 1.6 million through the first nine months of this year – the chances of losing your bags is quite small.
Nonetheless, 1.6 million complaints is nothing to scoff at. The Department of Transportation takes it seriously and has issued its report on which U.S. airlines are the most chronic offenders of lost, damaged, stolen or delayed baggage
The five worst airlines for baggage handling through the first nine months of 2014 are:
1) Envoy Air (formerly American Eagle): 8.82 reports per 1,000 passengers.
2) ExpressJet Airlines: 5.82 reports per 1,000 passengers.
3) SkyWest Airlines: 4.78 reports per 1,000 passengers.
4) Southwest Airlines: 4.31 reports per 1,000 passengers.
5) American Airlines: 3.76 reports per 1,000 passengers.
The DOT is quick to note that its figures are for ALL passengers who board a flight, meaning the ratio of passengers to lost baggage could be higher since some passengers do not check bags and instead just bring a carry-on.
The five best according to the DOT?
1) Virgin American: 0.97 reports per 1,000 passengers.
2) Frontier Airlines: 1.78 reports per 1,000 passengers.
3) JetBlue Airways: 2.08 reports per 1,000 passengers.
4) Hawaian Airlines: 2.20 reports per 1,000 passengers.
5) Delta Air Lines: 2.44 reports per 1,000 passengers.
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