You've planned your holiday for months, but when you arrive at your destination, your bag doesn't. Standing at an empty baggage carousel is a frustrating and stressful experience that can ruin a holiday or an important business trip. Without your clothes, toiletries, and other necessities, you can feel helpless and anxious in a new place.

How Often Do Bags Get Lost?

Losing luggage is a common fear for travellers, but the good news is that it's becoming less frequent. According to a 2025 report from SITA, an air transport technology company, the rate of mishandled bags has dropped. In 2024, the rate was 6.3 bags for every 1,000 passengers, down from 6.9 in 2023. This is a 67% improvement since 2007.

Even with these improvements, millions of bags are still mishandled each year. In 2024, 33.4 million bags were mishandled, costing the airline industry around RM19.76 billion. Here’s a breakdown of what "mishandled" means:

What Causes Luggage to Get Lost?

There are several reasons why your bag might not arrive with you. The most common issue is problems during transfers between connecting flights, which accounts for 41% of all mishandled bags. Other issues can happen before the bag even leaves the ground, such as a simple failure to load it onto the aircraft before departure. 

Human error plays a significant role; baggage handlers can make mistakes, or incorrect information on a baggage tag can send your luggage to the wrong destination entirely. Additionally, a bag can be delayed if it is pulled aside for extra security screening, causing it to miss the flight. In some unfortunate cases, luggage goes missing due to theft by other passengers or even airport staff.

How SOMPO TravelSafe+ Can Help

Airlines usually provide compensation for lost luggage, but the amount may not be enough to cover everything you lost. This is where travel insurance like SOMPO TravelSafe+ can provide extra help and security. SOMPO TravelSafe+ offers cover for problems like lost or delayed baggage. Here is how it can help:

Losing your luggage is a major inconvenience, but knowing what to do and having the right insurance can make a significant difference. By being prepared, you can reduce the stress of a travel mishap and get back to enjoying your holiday.