Worst months for lost luggage

Worst months for lost luggage

NEW YORK

Heading into winter, fliers should take extra precautions with their checked luggage — December and January are traditionally the worst months for lost bags.

To avoid problems, arrive at the airport early enough to let your bag get to the plane, and print out a copy of your itinerary from the airline’s website and stick it inside just in case all the tags get ripped off.

In the U.S. during the first nine months of this year, 3.3 bags for every 1,000 passengers didn’t make it to their destination on time, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. That’s not great if you are one of those people whose bag is delayed or lost. But consider this: during the 2007 peak in air travel, airlines were mishandling more than twice as many suitcases — 7.2 bags per 1,000 passengers.

Globally, the baggage-mishandling rate has fallen 61 percent from its peak in 2007, according to SITA, an aviation communications and technology provider. That has saved the industry $18 billion.

The vast majority of bags — 80 percent — aren’t lost but just delayed, according to SITA. And it takes about a day and a half to reunite passengers with their bags. Another 14 percent are damaged or have their contents reported stolen. And nearly 6 percent of bags are lost or stolen completely.

December and January tend to be the worst months because there are a lot of infrequent travelers checking multiple bags, and a few snowstorms can add to delays and suitcases that miss connections.

Geography quiz

Q. The hajj, an important pilgrimage for Muslims, is made to which city?

A. Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Muslims who are physically and financially capable are required to make the pilgrimage at least once.

Airport traffic

LAS VEGAS

The number of people traveling to and from Las Vegas is once again growing.

McCarran International Airport released statistics last week showing Las Vegas had 6.4 percent more passengers in October than a year ago with 4.1 million travelers flying in and out during the month.

The increase has come as airlines use larger planes with more seats or add flights in and out of Las Vegas.

Las Vegas airport traffic has increased every month in 2015 compared with a year ago continuing what appears to be a monthly year-over-year streak stretching back as far as December 2013.

Resort renovations

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va.

The Greenbrier resort will close for 24 days next year for renovations and upkeep.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports the closure will be spread throughout January, February and March.

Some of the work will include electrical upgrades, painting, furniture and upholstery repairs, carpet replacement and wallpaper work.

Combined dispatches