If you're visiting this destination, you may want to pack everything in your carry-on
Traveling to This Airport? Be Prepared for Lost, Damaged or Delayed Luggage
Published on Apr. 25, 2025
Every seasoned traveler has been there at least once: You arrive at your destination after a long day of travel only to discover that your luggage is damaged, delayed or, worse, lost. At best, it’s inconvenient and frustrating, but sometimes lost luggage can ruin your entire trip.
There’s only so much you can do to prevent having issues with mishandled baggage when you fly, and short of packing everything you need in your carry-on, there’s nothing you can do to avoid it completely. But did you know that the airports you fly in and out of can factor into the likelihood of your bag arriving at your destination safe and sound? According to a new study from Upgraded Points, this is a bigger issue than you might think.
Keep reading to find out which airport earned the title of the worst for mishandled baggage—and which other airports gave it a run for its money.
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How did the study determine which airport was the worst for mishandled baggage?
Upgraded Points first analyzed the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) property complaint data from the 60 busiest airports in the United States between 2015 and 2023. That’s eight years worth of information! Of course, not all airports are the same size, so researchers took that into consideration in calculating the results. As part of the study, the ratio of the total number of property-related complaints to annual passenger volumes was used to normalize the data. Lastly, the airports were ranked based on the number of complaints about lost, delayed and damaged luggage.
Which airport is the worst for mishandled baggage?
The airport that earned the title of the worst for mishandled baggage is Orlando International Airport (MCO) in Orlando, Florida. While Disney World maybe the happiest place on Earth, the Orlando airport most definitely is not for travelers who run into issues with delayed, damaged or lost luggage. According to the survey, Orlando International Airport received an average of 1.81 baggage complaints for every 100,000 passengers.
Why did Orlando’s airport score the worst?
While it’s not as much of a science to pinpoint exactly why Orlando International is the worst for mishandled baggage, it probably has something to do with the fact that it’s the default airport for Disney World travelers. Disney World draws in a high volume of visitors who are packed for big family trips, especially during peak travel seasons, so the uptick in mishaps is likely tied to the staggering number of bags the airport handles.
What other airports rounded out the top five worst for mishandled baggage?
Orlando International Airport may be the worst in the country for mishandled baggage, but a few other airports weren’t too far behind—and two more are in Florida! (Yikes!) Check to see if your local airport landed in the top five worst in the United States:
- Orlando International Airport (MCO), Orlando, Florida: 1.81 complaints per 100,000 passengers
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York, New York: 1.72 complaints per 100,000 passengers
- Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), Palm Beach, Florida: 1.71 complaints per 100,000 passengers
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), Anchorage, Alaska: 1.69 complaints per 100,000 passengers
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida: 1.68 complaints per 100,000 passengers
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Source:
- Upgraded Points: “The Worst U.S. Airports for Mishandled Luggage”
