Nearly 200,000 UK passengers a month have had their luggage lost or misplaced at airports over the last two years.
Figures from travel insurance company InsureandGo estimates that 25% more bags are lost in August than any other month, with almost 250,000 passengers losing or misplacing luggage on average during that month over the last two years.
January is the quietest month for lost baggage, with a relatively low 156,000 passengers suffering from bags going missing.
April is usually slightly below average, with an average of 189,000 passengers losing out, but that figure is set to rise this year with the unexpected problems at Heathrow Terminal 5, according to the company.
The research, based on a poll of 1,514 people, also found that holidaymakers are getting so worried about having their luggage lost or stolen that more than three in 10 of them (31%) say they have occasionally packed less, so that they can keep their luggage with them throughout the flight in order to reduce the chance of loss or theft.
Company spokesman Perry Wilson said: “BAA has come in for a lot of criticism over the last week or two over the problems at Terminal 5, but people have to realise that baggage delays and lost luggage have been a big problem at many airports in recent times, as our research shows.
“We are still very hopeful that the new baggage system at Terminal 5 will cut down on lost luggage once it has got over its teething troubles, and we would urge others in the airline industry to step up their efforts in improving the security of luggage as it passes through airports.â€
Estimated average number of passengers who have had luggage lost or misplaced at an airport by month:
January 156,000
February 154,000
March 184,000
April 189,000
May 208,000
June 224,000
July 244,000
August 249,000
September 229,000
October 213,000
November 167,000
December 167,000
by Phil Davies
