50 million suitcases lost a year

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According to Which? Holiday magazine more and more of our checked luggage is being damaged, delayed or lost. Air passengers in 2011 are predicted to number around 2.75 billion which could mean that luggage issues could rise to 50 million.

A company specialising in IT solution for aviation says that most problems occur when luggage is being transferred from airplane to another. Other issues was when planes left before luggage was loaded or handlers had misread the flight codes on the tags.

World Tracer is a company that tracks missing luggage all over the world and they found that in 2007 a massive 42 million bags were mishandled, compared to 34 million the year before and 30 million in 2005.

“When you hand over your bag at the airport check-in you trust the airline will get it to your destination, preferably at the same time as your own arrival. Unfortunately this is not always the case,” said Which? Holiday editor, Lorna Cowan.

Airlines are responsible for luggage that is checked in, and if after 21 days your luggage has not showed up you are entitled to compensation set at a maximum of just under £1,000. This in most cases would not be enough for the cost of replacing what is in the suitcase.

Thanks to www.telegraph.co.uk for above quotes, for more information on this story please visit their website.

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