New data analysis shows Birmingham has highest luggage loss risk score, with London Gatwick and Manchester following closely behind
Key Findings:
- New study identifies the UK airports where travellers face the highest risk of losing their luggage, using complaint data and passenger volumes
- Birmingham tops the list with a risk score of 100, followed by London Gatwick (88) and Manchester (60)
- Travel expert warns Easter and summer holiday travellers to take precautions when flying through high-risk airports
As spring approaches and travellers begin planning Easter getaways and summer holidays, the frustration of lost luggage remains a significant concern for UK passengers. Few travel experiences are more stressful than standing at an empty baggage carousel, realising your luggage hasn’t arrived. Some UK airports have a much higher likelihood of baggage mishandling than others.
“Lost luggage can turn a dream holiday into a nightmare,” says Dawn Morwood, Co-Director of Cheap Deals Away, a company dedicated to helping travellers find value holidays. “Understanding which airports have higher rates of luggage issues can help travellers better prepare and potentially avoid problems.”
To help travellers make informed decisions ahead of the busy spring and summer travel seasons, Cheap Deals Away analysed complaint data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), along with passenger volume figures to identify which UK airports present the highest risk for lost luggage.
The analysis examined the top five airports with the highest number of lost luggage complaints and calculated a ‘Luggage Loss Risk Score’ based on the number of complaints relative to the number of passengers visiting each airport.
Table: Top 5 Airports Where You Are Most Likely To Lose Your Luggage In UK
| Rank | Airport | Location | Luggage Loss Risk Score |
| 1 | Birmingham | West Midlands | 100 |
| 2 | London Gatwick | Greater London | 88 |
| 3 | Manchester | Greater Manchester | 60 |
| 4 | London Heathrow | Greater London | 52 |
| 5 | London Stansted | Essex | 30 |
Birmingham: The Riskiest Airport for Lost Luggage
Birmingham Airport scored a maximum 100 on the luggage loss risk scale, making it the UK airport where travelers are most likely to experience baggage issues. Despite handling only 2,477,000 passengers in 2021 (just 3.8% of all UK air travelers), Birmingham recorded 23 lost luggage complaints, giving it the highest loss rate of 0.0093 per thousand passengers.
“Birmingham’s position at the top of this list may surprise many travelers,” notes Morwood. “While it handles fewer passengers than the major London hubs, its disproportionately high complaint rate suggests significant challenges in its baggage handling systems.”
London Gatwick: Second Highest Risk
With a risk score of 88, London Gatwick ranks second for luggage loss risk. Gatwick processed 6,260,000 passengers (9.7% of UK air travelers) but received 51 luggage complaints, resulting in a loss rate of 0.0081 per thousand passengers.
“Gatwick serves as a major base for several budget airlines, which often operate with tighter turnaround times between flights,” explains Morwood. “These compressed schedules can sometimes lead to baggage handling challenges, especially during peak travel periods.”
Manchester: Third Highest Risk
Manchester Airport ranks third with a risk score of 60. Serving as the primary international airport for northern England, Manchester handled 6,083,000 passengers in 2021 and recorded 34 lost luggage complaints, giving it a loss rate of 0.0056 per thousand passengers.
“Manchester has faced well-documented staffing challenges in recent years,” says Morwood. “When airports operate with fewer ground handling staff than needed, baggage systems become strained, increasing the likelihood of mishandled luggage.”
Why Luggage Gets Lost
Several factors contribute to the risk of lost luggage at UK airports:
“Staff shortages have been a persistent problem across the aviation industry since the pandemic,” Morwood points out. “When there aren’t enough handlers to process baggage efficiently, errors become more common.”
She adds that tight connection times between flights create additional pressure: “When passengers have minimal time to transfer between flights, their luggage faces the same time constraints. Sometimes bags simply can’t be transferred quickly enough.”
System failures also play a role. “Modern airports rely on complex automated systems to sort and route thousands of bags daily. When these systems experience technical problems, bags can be misrouted or delayed,” says Morwood.
Dawn Morwood, Co-Director of Cheap Deals Away, commented:
“As travel volumes continue to increase heading into the Easter break and summer holiday season, passengers should be particularly vigilant about their luggage when flying through high-risk airports. The data clearly shows significant variations in luggage handling reliability across UK airports, with Birmingham having the highest risk despite handling fewer passengers than major hubs like Heathrow.
“While airports work to address these issues, travelers can take several practical steps to protect themselves. Always keep essential items and a change of clothes in your carry-on, attach clear identification to your bags, arrive early enough to ensure your luggage is properly processed, and consider using luggage tracking devices like Apple AirTags which have become game-changers for travelers. Travel insurance that specifically covers lost luggage can also provide peace of mind and financial protection should the worst happen.”
