What travelers need to know as airlines deal with lost, delayed bags

Air travel has been rocky this summer — and baggage problems factor among many other issues for travelers like flight cancellations and delays.

Nearly 220,000 bags were “mishandled” by U.S. airlines in April 2022, meaning they were lost, damaged, delayed or stolen, according to the most recent data published by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The number of mishandled bags in April was more than double the roughly 94,000 cases of mishandled luggage in April 2021, though slightly less than the tally in March 2022 and the level in April 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to department data.

More from Personal Finance:
The euro hit parity with the U.S. dollar for first time since 2002
These 10 U.S. real estate markets are cooling the fastest
How inflation hurts and helps consumers

What do those numbers look like for travelers? Consider this: Last week, Delta Air Lines flew a plane filled with 1,000 pieces of stranded luggage — and zero passengers — from London’s Heathrow Airport to Detroit to expedite movement of delayed bags.

Airlines have contended with a shortage of baggage handlers, pilots and other staff as travel demand has ramped up, after having pared back at the onset of the pandemic. More than 2.4 million Americans passed through airport security on Sunday, an increase of 10% from a year ago and more than triple the same day in 2020, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

While a lost bag or a delay in accessing your belongings can sour an otherwise amazing trip, there’s a silver lining: Travelers can, in many circumstances, get financial compensation from airlines when their bags go missing. There are also steps to take before flying to make the process easier.

“Passengers do have recourse,” said Sara Rathner, a travel expert at NerdWallet.

Here’s what to know if your checked luggage goes MIA or comes back with a few dents.

Per U.S. regulations, airlines must compensate passengers for lost, delayed or damaged luggage, up to a limit.

• If your bag is declared lost: The airline must compensate you for the bag’s contents, subject to depreciation, up to a preset maximum. That maximum liability is $3,800 for domestic flights and about $1,800 for international flights, according to the Transportation Department. (Airlines can pay more but aren’t required to.) The carrier must also refund any fees paid for checking the bag. Airlines are also on the hook for up to another $20,000 for a lost or damaged “assistive device” for a traveler’s disability, including crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, hearing aids or prosthetics, for example.
• If your bag is delayed: Those maximum liability limits also apply to delayed bags. Payment to travelers may include out-of-pocket costs for additional clothing or other purchases they make out of necessity due to…