Dubai flights: Only 0.1% chance of baggage being misplaced, says Emirates

The chances of baggage mishandling by Dubai-based Emirates is very minimal at 1.3 in 1,000 bags, the airline revealed on Friday, as it announced that it has maintained an almost perfect 99.9 per cent success rate in baggage handling during the busiest travel months.

On an average, 2.7 million bags were moved monthly from September 2023 to January 2024 from DXB to 140 global destinations.

“Emirates has an excellent statistical record for baggage handling, where 99.9 per cent of all baggage coming from Dubai or transferring through, reaches its owner on time, at the correct destination,” the airline said.

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Baggage mishandling is defined as delayed, lost or misplaced baggage. It’s a traveller’s nightmare, especially when bags end up in other countries or destinations.

“On the rare occasion that baggage is delayed, an array of varying scenarios might have occurred,” the airline added, noting: “Sometimes baggage tags containing essential information are accidentally torn off, or occasionally a bag could fall off the underground baggage belt as its rounds a corner at a fast pace – which is captured on camera and can be rectified immediately.

Emirates said its rate of baggage mishandling is “almost 30 times lower than some other (airlines)”.

“Of the bags that are unavoidably delayed even globally – 91 per cent are reunited with their owners within 72 hours. This rate is also significant globally because Emirates primarily manages international baggage and international transfer baggage, so luggage often goes on long and complex journeys that require a higher level of attention than domestic travel,” the Dubai-based carrier explained.

‘Boss Room’

Emirates said a luggage’s journey starts from a porter’s trolley to a check-in agent and baggage belt. Then it enters a ‘Boss Room’ where the baggage is scanned with high tech security, then loaded into dnata baggage containers and onto the moveable dollies bound for Emirates aircraft, before it travels across the world, to meet the baggage handlers at a new destination.

“A transfer flight may be unavoidably delayed due to weather or a sick passenger, making it impossible to remove and reload the bag onto the passenger’s transfer flight in time. In this case, the customers bag is immediately loaded onto the next flight,” Emirates noted.

A baggage can be tracked on the Emirates app and website.

Here are some tips from the airline:

Compensation for delayed baggage

Emirates offers Interim Relief (IR) compensation to all customers who have travelled to and from the US who have reported a missing piece of baggage. IR is also offered to passengers who have travelled on other routes when no baggage is received (excluding residents). IR can be used to purchase essential items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and sleepwear.

To claim IR compensation, visit the nearest Emirates office with your passport and a receipt of your purchased ticket.

How to track a baggage

Go the Emirates app and then select your trip under ‘My trips’ and choose ‘My baggage status’. Follow your bag from check‑in to loading on the aircraft, while it’s being transferred to a connecting flight, and see when it has arrived at your destination. Check the baggage belt number when your bags are ready to collect. If your bag is delayed, the tracker will give you a reference number (called a PIR) and Emirates will let you know what they’re doing to return your bags. The delayed or damaged baggage tracker is also available on Emirates website.

How to collect delayed baggage

Emirates said they will be in touch immediately to arrange a delivery time. “However within some countries, local laws mean they can’t forward the delayed bag to the passenger who will need to collect it from the airport.

“On the rare occasion that baggage is delayed, an array of varying scenarios might have occurred, Emirates added, noting: “Sometimes baggage tags containing essential information are accidentally torn off, or occasionally a bag could fall off the underground baggage belt as its rounds a corner at a fast pace – which is captured on camera and can be rectified immediately.

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