Report Says Airlines Lost 30M Bags in 2005 By BRADLEY S. KLAPPER, Associated Press Writer

Report Says Airlines Lost 30M Bags in 2005 By BRADLEY S. KLAPPER, Associated Press Writer
Tue Mar 21, 7:14 AM ET



GENEVA - If you've ever been frustrated after an airline lost your luggage, you're in the good company of millions of others. An estimated 30 million bags were temporarily lost by airlines in 2005, and 200,000 of those bags were never reunited with their owners, according to an industry report released Monday.

The report by SITA Inc., a company that provides technology solutions for the air transport industry, also noted that "the problem of mishandled baggage is worsening on both sides of the Atlantic."

The 30 million misdirected bags comprised only 1 percent of the 3 billion bags processed last year by airports, up from 0.7 percent in 2004, said SITA, which is promoting technology it says would reduce the problem.

Last year, mishandled luggage cost world airlines $2.5 billion, compared with $1.6 billion in 2004, SITA said, in a report released before Tuesday's airline and airport passenger services exposition in Paris. The jump partly reflects improvements in data collection, but also the increasing costs resulting from inadequate baggage management.

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This is another good reason not to fly. Personally I haven't flown since 09/11/01. Not from fear mind you, but because of things like lost luggage, removing your shoes, confiscating your Zippos, nail clippers, and still searching 80 year old Anglo men and women.

Personally I hope all the airlines file Chapter 7 and begin having a 'flight-line sale'.