Airlines are struggling with lost and delayed bags: What to know and how to pack if you're traveling this summer

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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 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.

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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.

«Passeng