Squaremouth Analysis Identifies Airlines with Highest and Lowest Baggage Mishandling Rates
A new analysis by travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth, utilizing 2025 U.S. Department of Transportation data, ranks airlines based on their baggage mishandling rates ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday season. The study reveals that United Airlines Network has the highest rate of mishandled bags at 0.72% per 100 checked bags, followed by American Airlines Network at 0.66%. Conversely, Allegiant Air emerged as the top performer with a significantly lower mishandling rate of just 0.09%. Other high-performing carriers include JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines. Experts recommend that travelers carry essentials in carry-on luggage and utilize travel insurance to mitigate financial risks associated with lost, delayed, or damaged belongings that airline policies may not fully cover.