Likelihood of Lost Luggage?

[travelinggnomes]

So, what would be the likelihood of our luggage going missing? I am not as concerned about our trip home...just our trip into Orlando. We have lost luggage coming home before, but never IN Orlando. I am pretty sure I would cry, if all the Disney clothes that I purchased for my sweet kiddos, went missing and I had to go replace them! Even worse...replace mine! Time and money down the drain...

So, have any of you lost your luggage? If so, how was it handled?

 

[DebbieB]

So, what would be the likelihood of our luggage going missing? I am not as concerned about our trip home...just our trip into Orlando. We have lost luggage coming home before, but never IN Orlando. I am pretty sure I would cry, if all the Disney clothes that I purchased for my sweet kiddos, went missing and I had to go replace them! Even worse...replace mine! Time and money down the drain... So, have any of you lost your luggage? If so, how was it handled?

I only had my luggage "delayed" once in Orlando. It was on the next flight about an hour later. I just waited for it, I didn't have DME, I was renting a car. I've had it delayed on returns from other cities, they delivered it to my house.

 

[sam_gordon]

So, what would be the likelihood of our luggage going missing? I am not as concerned about our trip home...just our trip into Orlando. We have lost luggage coming home before, but never IN Orlando. I am pretty sure I would cry, if all the Disney clothes that I purchased for my sweet kiddos, went missing and I had to go replace them! Even worse...replace mine! Time and money down the drain...

So, have any of you lost your luggage? If so, how was it handled?

I've had luggage delayed on multiple trips. It's never been lost in that I haven't seen it again. Usually the airline delivers it to wherever I'm staying. I would NOT wait at the airport for it. Who knows if it's coming in the next hour or the next 3-4.

Assuming you're bringing multiple pieces of luggage, mix & match clothes (so everyone has clothes in each piece). This way if luggage does get delayed, as long as one piece makes it, everyone is covered.

 

[donnaf516]

I've had luggage delayed on multiple trips. It's never been lost in that I haven't seen it again. Usually the airline delivers it to wherever I'm staying. I would NOT wait at the airport for it. Who knows if it's coming in the next hour or the next 3-4. Assuming you're bringing multiple pieces of luggage, mix & match clothes (so everyone has clothes in each piece). This way if luggage does get delayed, as long as one piece makes it, everyone is covered.

This is how we travel. Chances are the airline won't lose all your luggage so split everyone's clothes up between each piece of luggage.

 

[DebbieB]

I've had luggage delayed on multiple trips. It's never been lost in that I haven't seen it again. Usually the airline delivers it to wherever I'm staying. I would NOT wait at the airport for it. Who knows if it's coming in the next hour or the next 3-4.

Assuming you're bringing multiple pieces of luggage, mix & match clothes (so everyone has clothes in each piece). This way if luggage does get delayed, as long as one piece makes it, everyone is covered.

The major airlines track luggage, they know where it is at. In my case, by the time I was in baggage claim, waited for the luggage to come out and then go to the office, the plane with my luggage on it was ready to land. I decided to wait for my piece of mind, not worrying when they will deliver it.

 

[sam_gordon]

The major airlines track luggage, they know where it is at. In my case, by the time I was in baggage claim, waited for the luggage to come out and then go to the office, the plane with my luggage on it was ready to land. I decided to wait for my piece of mind, not worrying when they will deliver it.

Sorry, I misread your post. In that scenario, I would also wait.

 

[usrtyz]

I am worried about this too. I will be flying United from Appleton, WI to Chicago O'hare and than to Orlando. I am going to put a change of clothes, swimsuit and pj's in a carry on for each of us. Plus toiletries. And also split our clothes between all of the suitcases. I am crossing my fingers everything will go smoothly. I had issues with United in 2012 and they left a bad taste in my mouth. The Pilots didn't show up for our return flight from Orlando because they went on strike. I am giving United a second chance.

 

[rwdavis2]

Considering the number of people that fly lost luggage is pretty rare. Mine has been delayed (caused by too short connections) but never lost.

If you're concerned about losing souvenirs you can probably have them shipped from WDW. I now we had purchases from the Wolrd of Disney shipped home rather than haul them around. It took 10-14 days but nothing we could not do without.

Tip: Don't buy the Mickey measuring spoons. They are wildly inaccurate. About 20% or so.

 

[travelinggnomes]

Considering the number of people that fly lost luggage is pretty rare. Mine has been delayed (caused by too short connections) but never lost.

If you're concerned about losing souvenirs you can probably have them shipped from WDW. I now we had purchases from the Wolrd of Disney shipped home rather than haul them around. It took 10-14 days but nothing we could not do without.

Tip: Don't buy the Mickey measuring spoons. They are wildly inaccurate. About 20% or so.

Lol---good to know about the measuring spoons!!!

I will plan on separating out our clothes over the suitcases and will also distribute the toiletries amongst the suitcases. I had heard this tip awhile ago, but forgot about it.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

just do not place car keys in a checked bag, BIL found this out the hard way. of course we had to drive the 2 hours to get them at airport. 5 out of 66 cases made it guess what was in the one that did not. that case was delivered to their house next afternoon

 

[kaytieeldr]

Average of about 3.5 checked bags per thousand get misdirected http://www.creditdonkey.com/lost-luggage.html

 

[jsilvers]

Average of about 3.5 checked bags per thousand get misdirected http://www.creditdonkey.com/lost-luggage.html

That figure is from September 2011; much more current data is available.

For example, for calendar year 2013, the figure for misdirected baggage among the airlines that file reports with the U.S. Department of Transportation is 3.22 per thousand domestic passengers. See http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/2014_February_ATCR.pdf#page=33.

However, keep in mind that the significance of the above figure is limited for several reasons: (1) it doesn't distnguish between bags that are temporarily lost and bags that are never found (although hopefully the latter are few in number), (2) it doesn't include all U.S. airlines (notably, Spirit does not file reports), (3) the figures vary enormously from airline to airline (from a low of 0.97 for Virgin America to a high of 5.90 for American Eagle), and (4) the figures are based on the total number of domestic passengers aboard an airline (not just the passengers who check bags).

 

[davedmaine]

So, what would be the likelihood of our luggage going missing? I am not as concerned about our trip home...just our trip into Orlando. We have lost luggage coming home before, but never IN Orlando. I am pretty sure I would cry, if all the Disney clothes that I purchased for my sweet kiddos, went missing and I had to go replace them! Even worse...replace mine! Time and money down the drain...

So, have any of you lost your luggage? If so, how was it handled?

Seriously, I wouldn't worry about it..

 

[sam_gordon]

That figure is from September 2011; much more current data is available.

For example, for calendar year 2013, the figure for misdirected baggage among the airlines that file reports with the U.S. Department of Transportation is 3.22 per thousand domestic passengers. See http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/2014_February_ATCR.pdf#page=33.

However, keep in mind that the significance of the above figure is limited for several reasons: (1) it doesn't distnguish between bags that are temporarily lost and bags that are never found (although hopefully the latter are few in number), (2) it doesn't include all U.S. airlines (notably, Spirit does not file reports), (3) the figures vary enormously from airline to airline (from a low of 0.97 for Virgin America to a high of 5.90 for American Eagle), and (4) the figures are based on the total number of domestic passengers aboard an airline (not just the passengers who check bags).

Man, I must be unlucky. *I've* had at least three "delayed" bags out of the last 5 round trips I've taken where I've checked a bag.

 

[Sandi]

Man, I must be unlucky. *I've* had at least three "delayed" bags out of the last 5 round trips I've taken where I've checked a bag.

Yeah, it must be you! Seriously, the whole "bad things happen in threes" happens to me. I can go for a few years with no delayed baggage. Then, in three consecutive trips, my bags will be "misdirected." The series will repeat in another few years.

I agree with the posters that have suggested packing something for everyone in all checked bags on your way to your vacation. Not as important on the way back home. I alwo appreciate the RAC folks always asking "did you make sure to not put your car keys, photo ID, etc. in your checked bag?" I'm always surprised that people waiting to check their bags will say, "oh, yeah; they're in an outside pocket so I can get to them easy." Yeah, not if you're going to Chicago and your bag went to Cincinnati!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

......I had issues with United in 2012 and they left a bad taste in my mouth. The Pilots didn't show up for our return flight from Orlando because they went on strike. I am giving United a second chance.

I'm not sure why your flight had no pilots, but UA pilots did not go on strike in July 2012.

Most "lost" luggage is not gone forever; it is eventually found and returned to you.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My husband had his luggage delayed by a couple of hours on his California trip. The airline delivered it to his hotel when it arrived.

 

[kathie859]

I have hundreds of flights under my belt. At one time I traveled often for business and more recently for pleasure now that I'm retired. Last year alone I had 14 trips including 2 international flights with a total of 28 individual flight legs. In my life, I've had ONE bag not arrive at my final destination due to a switch of a connecting flight mid trip due to a delayed flight. I made the new flight but not my bag. Upon arrival at home and no luggage on the carrousel, the Delta agent knew exactly where my bag was and Delta delivered it to my home within 12 hours.

Worrying about lost luggage is way down my list of concerns.

 

[goofy4tink]

More flights than I can count...only once have I had a bag misdirected. And when it was found, the airline brought it right to me the next day.

 

[denneg]

I've flown hundreds of thousands of miles and only lost a bag once, a flight out of a tiny airport in France, connecting in Paris and home to Boston. The bag was found and delivered the next day. In Orlando, my only problem ever was when a friend met me there and grabbed a bag believing it was hers, and when we arrived at the hotel she realized it was a mans suitcase. Luckily her bag was still there, so we were able to go back and switch, and the airline delivered his. Pretty funny in retrospect, that day it was a bit annoying to take another trip to MCO!