April 17, 2025, 9:13 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Finally, vacation time—an opportunity to unwind and relax. But that sense of relief quickly fades when you’re standing at the baggage carousel and your suitcase is nowhere to be found. Lost or stolen luggage is no longer a rare occurrence and can quickly become a nerve-wracking test of patience. At some airports, the likelihood of losing your luggage is significantly higher than at others. A recent study by Airadvisor reveals which airports are the most problematic.
Airadvisor, a global leader in passenger rights, has published a study focusing on baggage claim safety at airports. The study examined the ten safest and ten riskiest airports worldwide regarding luggage loss and theft. The results are clear: Long distances between the aircraft and baggage carousel, along with high passenger traffic, significantly increase the risk of baggage theft. Particularly critical in this context are the airports London Heathrow (LHR), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), and Dubai International (DXB).
Overview
These Airports Have the Highest Incidence of Baggage Theft
Baggage is most frequently lost at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), closely followed by Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Dubai International (DXB). This issue is also significant for German travelers. Frankfurt am Main (FRA)—Germany’s largest airport—ranks fifth worldwide for the highest risk of baggage theft. In contrast, Munich (MUC) ranks 13th and Düsseldorf (DUS) ranks 18th, both benefiting from more efficient processes and shorter distances to baggage claim, which significantly enhance security.
Darwin International Airport ranks best in the study, and travelers at Cardiff Airport (CWL) and Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) also rarely report baggage theft.
The 10 Airports with the Highest Luggage Loss Risk
- London Heathrow Airport (LHR), United Kingdom
- Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), France
- Dubai International (DXB), United Arab Emirates
- Istanbul Airport (IST), Turkey
- Frankfurt am Main International Airport (FRA), Germany
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), Netherlands
- Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), Singapore
- Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN), Spain
- Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), Turkey
- Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD), Australia
Why you shouldn’t hang any accessories on your suitcase
The European capitals with the best and worst metro networks
Why Are There So Many Airplane Accidents at the Moment?
Analysis Methodology
According to the Daily Mail, Airadvisor analyzed a total of 53 airports worldwide. The rankings are based on various key factors that can influence the risk of baggage loss or theft at airports. These include passenger volume—the more travelers an airport handles daily, the more chaotic the situation becomes, increasing the potential theft risk. Google search behavior was also considered: A high number of searches for lost baggage associated with specific airports indicates more frequent incidents.
Additionally, reviews on platforms like Yelp and Google were analyzed, especially those discussing baggage loss or inadequate security measures. The walking time from the arrival gate to baggage claim also played a role, as longer distances give thieves more time to steal unattended luggage. Airports with overall poorer online reviews tended to have more complaints related to lost baggage.