US airlines mishandled more than 1 million checked bags in the first six months of 2026, according to new figures from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Between January and June 2026, airlines reported mishandling 1,052,493 bags out of over 213 million checked, averaging nearly 5,815 incidents daily.

American Airlines had the highest rate of mishandled bags among reporting carriers, with 0.73 bags mishandled per 100 checked. The airline handled over 34.5 million checked bags during this period, with 251,976 reported as mishandled. United Airlines ranked third, reporting 0.66 mishandled bags per 100, totaling 192,191 incidents from more than 29.2 million checked bags.

At the other end of the spectrum, Allegiant Air reported the lowest rate at 0.12 bags per 100. JetBlue followed with 0.31, and Southwest recorded 0.32 mishandled bags per 100.

Despite the significant number of mishandled bags, the overall rate has seen a slight improvement. The mishandling rate fell from 0.52 bags per 100 in the first half of 2025 to 0.49 in the same period of 2026. The total number of mishandled bags also decreased from approximately 1.15 million in the first half of 2025 to 1.05 million in the first half of 2026.

Travelers experiencing mishandled luggage often find that bags are not permanently lost. Many are eventually reunited with their owners, sometimes after being delayed, misrouted, or sent on a later flight. Social media forums and travel sites feature numerous accounts of passengers whose bags were initially lost but later delivered to their homes or on subsequent flights.

Experts suggest several preventative measures for travelers. Jurgen Himmelmann, co-founder and CEO of Global Work & Travel, advises passengers to photograph their luggage both inside and out before checking it. Keeping irreplaceable items such as passports, medication, and electronics in carry-on baggage is also recommended. Removing old airline baggage stickers and ensuring contact information is placed both on the exterior tag and inside the suitcase can also help staff identify owners. For added peace of mind, travelers can use baggage trackers like Apple AirTags, which can help pinpoint a suitcase's location if it fails to arrive.

For extended trips, packing essential items for the first 24-48 hours in a carry-on can mitigate the inconvenience of a delayed checked bag.