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Luggage loss rarely feels random. It shows up after a tight connection, a late arrival, or a carousel jammed with look-alike bags. A 2025 Upgraded Points study used TSA property-complaint data from the 60 busiest U.S. airports, then normalized baggage-related complaints by passenger volume. These airports are not guaranteed trouble spots, but they share patterns: leisure surges, complex transfers, and peak-time bottlenecks that strain crews, belts, and scan points. Knowing where complaints cluster helps travelers plan with a little more margin. It helps when the carousel stays silent for less.
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Orlando moves mountains of luggage because many trips are long, family-heavy, and packed with extras that do not compress: strollers, car seats, and bulky duffels. Upgraded Points ranked MCO No. 1 for baggage-related TSA property-complaint rate at 1.81 per 100,000 passengers. When late flights stack and several airlines feed the same carousels, one missed scan can snowball into reroutes, long lines at the baggage office, and a vacation that starts with forms instead of fun. High volume also invites mix-ups, so identical rollers vanish when tags tear, stubs fade, and handles look the same, too.
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
JFK runs like a small city, with international arrivals, tight domestic connections, and terminal hops that send bags through long routes and repeated handoffs. Upgraded Points ranked JFK No. 2 at 1.72 baggage-related complaints per 100,000 passengers. Those transfers raise the odds of a tag getting misread or a cart arriving late, especially during weather ripple days and evening arrival banks. When claims spike the baggage office turns into triage for timelines, delays, and gate changes, while travelers race for trains or rides. A bag can sit in the wrong terminal until a sweep spots it now.
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
Palm Beach looks calm compared with giant hubs, yet it sees sharp seasonal spikes and checked bags built for longer stays, like golf trips and winter rentals. Upgraded Points ranked PBI No. 3 at 1.71 baggage-related complaints per 100,000 passengers. In a smaller terminal, there is less slack when a belt slows or staffing dips, and fewer alternate carousels to absorb overflow. A tag that peels or a cart that misses its window can delay a bag until the next wave, and travelers notice fast because exits are close and expectations are calm. When trouble hits, the help desk has fewer hands nearby
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
Anchorage sits at the edge of long distances, and many itineraries include cold-weather gear, work equipment, and timing shaped by storms. Upgraded Points ranked ANC No. 4 at 1.69 baggage-related complaints per 100,000 passengers. On routes with limited frequencies, a missed bag is not a quick courier run. It can take days to catch up when weather reshuffles arrivals. That delay hits harder because the bag often holds boots, outerwear, and gear that are expensive to replace on short notice. When the next flight is tomorrow, the claim process becomes a waiting game, not a quick fix for anyone.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Fort Lauderdale’s travel mix is rough on bags: beach weekends, cruises, low-cost carriers, and short trips with little margin for delays. Upgraded Points ranked FLL No. 5 at 1.68 baggage-related complaints per 100,000 passengers. When flight banks land together, carousels fill fast, and look-alike suitcases pile up, so a delay can collide with a ship departure or a long drive down the coast. That pressure pushes reports early because missing bags are not just missing items, they are missing time. Shuttle lines keep moving, and the window to recover a bag before departure can be short for many.
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Miami handles heavy international churn, cruise-bound luggage, and frequent connections that push bags through complex sorting. Upgraded Points ranked MIA No. 6 at 1.59 baggage-related complaints per 100,000 passengers. Long walks between zones, gate changes, and customs timing shifts can turn a small delay into a missed delivery, especially during holiday surges when carousels jam. When flights get rebooked, a bag can end up on a later belt or a different terminal. The frustration is sharp after a flight because rides, hotels, and cruise shuttles do not wait, and the baggage line can stretch.
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
Southwest Florida International serves beach towns and seasonal rentals, so checked bags often include longer-stay wardrobes, golf clubs, and bulky gear. Upgraded Points ranked RSW No. 7 at 1.54 baggage-related complaints per 100,000 passengers. Winter and spring-break waves bunch arrivals into tight windows, and one torn tag or delayed cart can ripple across several flights at once. In a smaller terminal the disruption feels personal, because there are fewer staff layers to absorb the surge and fewer flights to catch up. That is why a missing bag can turn into an evening of calls and waiting.
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
Jacksonville feels straightforward, but it still handles a mix of leisure, military, and business travel that depends on quick exits and predictable timing. Upgraded Points ranked JAX No. 8 at 1.51 baggage-related complaints per 100,000 passengers. Smaller baggage teams have less redundancy when belts jam or several flights land together, so a delayed bag can upend a long drive, a late hotel check-in, or a meeting schedule. Many trips go by car so a suitcase delay can strand essentials far from stores. The claim process follows the traveler and the hour feels long when the carousel goes quiet.