Lost luggage showing signs of recovery after hitting 10-year high

Baggage mishandling rates last year hit the highest in a decade globally as the airline industry scrambled to recover after the pandemic, a report shows. Some 26m pieces of luggage were lost, delayed or damaged in 2022 - nearly eight bags in every 1,000. But new data seen by the BBC indicates the situation is improving as passenger numbers return to pre-pandemic levels. This was down to more airport staff and automation technology, said Sita, which handles IT systems for 90% of airlines. The UK watchdog, the Civil Aviation Authority, said the maximum most airlines pay out is about £1,000 but added: "It would be very rare for you to receive this much." It also warned that airlines judge the value of an item on its age when lost, not how much it costs to buy new, so it might be better to claim via travel insurance. Airlines must track every piece of luggage at various points during its journey using the barcode on the luggage tag, according to Sita. Last year was the first summer that holidaymakers returned in droves after Covid travel restrictions were eased. But many airports and airlines that had made cuts during the pandemic struggled to recruit staff including baggage handlers quickly enough.<br/>