London Heathrow has the highest rate of unresolved lost or delayed luggage claims in the UK, according to the UK’s leading price comparison site MoneySuperMarket.
Research into over 2,000 complaints to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) looked at lost, delayed and damaged luggage complaints for flights to and from UK airports since 2015. The data, obtained exclusively by MoneySuperMarket, reveals that 636 complaints from London Heathrow were referred to the CAA, which is responsible for handling disputes that are unresolved by the airline. This is more than twice as likely to happen at Heathrow than at Gatwick, and 10.4 times more likely than at London Stansted.
Top 10 UK airports for unresolved lost luggage claims (for airports with over 1,000,000 passengers since 2015):
Airport | Unresolved lost luggage claims |
London Heathrow | 636 |
London Gatwick | 280 |
Manchester | 186 |
Birmingham | 100 |
London Stansted | 61 |
Edinburgh | 47 |
London Luton | 27 |
Glasgow | 26 |
Newcastle | 23 |
London City Airport | 15 |
Outside the UK, Madrid’s Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport tops the list, followed by El Prat Airport in Barcelona and Dubai International. Between the three airports, there have been over 200 lost or delayed luggage claims to the CAA.
Separate research by MoneySuperMarket, which spoke to 2,000 adults who have flown in or out of a UK airport on holiday in the last 12 months, shows that on average, passengers have to wait 7.8 days for lost luggage to be returned, with 8% of people never seeing their luggage again.
Damaged baggage is also an issue, with 32% experiencing broken suitcases or items within their suitcase when flying to or from the UK. These costs are usually covered by airlines or travel insurance policies, but 16% of travellers who didn’t have travel insurance had to pay out for damaged goods themselves.
Anna Sant, travel insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, commented: “Most luggage arrives at its intended destination without a hitch. However, with the Civil Aviation Authority receiving over 2,000 unresolved luggage complaints in the past five years, it’s clear that it’s not always an issue that airlines can fix themselves.
“Preparing for your trip with items such as luggage tags can help any lost items find their way back to you. Many airlines have information sheets for anyone whose luggage goes missing, which details next steps and acts as written confirmation. Noting the contents and value of your cases will also assist with any subsequent insurance claims.
“It’s therefore vital you take out travel insurance with the right level of cover, as soon as you book your trip. Most policies will cover the full cost of your belongings but it’s worth double checking before proceeding with a policy.”
Visit MoneySuperMarket to find out more about lost luggage and travel insurance.
