If an airline has ever lost your checked luggage while traveling, you’re not alone: Airlines lose more than 2 million bags a year, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Of the hundreds of millions of bags handled by U.S. airlines, the vast majority make it to their intended destination. The 2 million pieces of lost luggage account for just a tiny fraction – .51% – of all the luggage that passes through terminals. The percentage is a little higher during the holidays (.066%).
When airlines lose a suitcase, they’ll spend up to three months trying to get it back to the rightful owner. Most of the 2 million lost bags are returned to their owner within 24 hours. If it’s not found within three months, airlines will stop looking and typically reimburse up to $3,800 for the lost luggage, according to NPR.
But what happens to the lost …