Travelers passing through Miami International Airport face a higher risk of losing their bags than at any other airport in the world, according to an analysis from Arka, a California-based packaging and shipping company.
The Florida hub, which serves nearly 56 million passengers annually, sees 306 lost-and-found searches per 1 million flights. This elevated search rate, along with a regional mishandling rate of 5.5 bags per 1,000 passengers, put the Magic City firmly at the top of the list.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport follows closely, recording 20,500 total lost-and-found searches. With nearly 74 million passengers, O’Hare mirrors Miami’s baggage mishandling rate of 5.5 per 1,000 passengers. Singapore Changi Airport ranked third, seeing 265 searches per million flights and a mishandling rate of 3.1 per 1,000, despite its reputation for efficiency. Denver International Airport ranks fourth, with 14,600 lost-and-found inquiries among its 77.8 million travelers. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport rounded out the top five, reporting a regional mishandling rate of 12.3 bags per 1,000 passengers — the highest in the study.
Other airports listed include Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Dallas/Fort Worth and Paris Charles de Gaulle, all showing high mishandling rates. Dubai International Airport, the only Middle Eastern hub in the ranking, placed seventh, losing six bags per 1,000 passengers and recording 9,600 lost-and-found searches each year.
With airports worldwide mishandling more than 26 million bags annually, an Arka spokesperson noted: “Losing luggage can quickly turn a trip upside down, and some airports clearly struggle more than others when it comes to baggage handling. It’s important for travelers to be aware of where these challenges exist, so they can plan accordingly and take extra precautions.”