United Airlines Tops the List for Baggage Mishandling
worst airlines for lost luggage rankings for the first half of 2026 place United Airlines at the top, according to a recent analysis of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) data by WPBF. The DOT requires domestic passenger carriers generating at least 0.5% of total passenger service revenues to report their baggage performance metrics.
United Airlines recorded the highest mishandled baggage rate among major domestic carriers at 6.9 bags per 1,000, totaling 267,861 incidents. This category includes lost, damaged, delayed, or stolen items. While the overall probability of a baggage incident remains relatively low at under 1%, U.S. airlines mishandled over 1 million bags in the first half of the year alone. These figures include both mainline flights and codeshare flights sold under the airline’s brand.
American Airlines and Other Carriers Follow
American Airlines ranked second with a mishandled baggage rate of 6.7 bags per 1,000. Although American held the number-one spot for five consecutive years from 2020 to 2024, it recorded the highest total volume of incidents with 367,650 cases.
Alaska Airlines followed in third place with 5.3 mishandled bags per 1,000, trailed by Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines—one of the top three major carriers alongside United and American—performed significantly better, ranking sixth with 3.7 mishandled bags per 1,000. Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, and Allegiant Air rounded out the subsequent rankings.
Passenger Compensation Rights
If your luggage is lost, damaged, or delayed, you have the right to file a claim with the airline. According to the DOT, the airline’s liability limit for domestic baggage incidents is up to $4,700 per passenger.
Passengers should report damaged or missing items to the airline as soon as possible. Be aware that certain items, such as fragile goods, may be excluded from compensation depending on the specific airline’s policies.
