Lost Luggage Could Create Holiday Headaches

Nov. 12, 2006 — -- The amount of luggage lost by the airlines has soared recently, and with Thanksgiving less than two weeks away, the numbers could escalate.

Lost luggage is a huge and growing problem in the United States. In the last few months, airlines broke an all-time record for the amount of mishandled luggage.

Any frequent flier will tell you that checking luggage can be a gamble, and those odds are getting much worse.

After authorities in Britain uncovered the terrorist plot to blow up U.S.-bound airliners in August, stringent carry on rules were put in place, which meant an immediate 20 percent increase in checked luggage.

The heavy load overburdened baggage handlers and led to a spike in lost items.

Now, a report just out from the Transportation Department reveals passenger complaints of mishandled luggage have gone up dramatically.

In September, more than 380,000 passengers reported luggage problems, up more than 90 percent from last year.

Some airports, like McCarran in Las Vegas, are betting on new technology to increase the odds of finding that lost luggage.

The airport is installing radio frequency readers, like those used by retailers to track inventory.

All outgoing baggage is being tagged, so the airport can find out if a bag doesn't make a flight before the passenger hits the ground.