I'm an extremely frequent flyer and I've only ever had bags delayed due to reasons I find completely understandable. One such case was a connection through Hou

I'm an extremely frequent flyer and I've only ever had bags delayed due to reasons I find completely understandable. One such case was a connection through Houston where there was a huge electrical storm that delayed flights and forced ramp crew indoors for their protection. After the storm passed the decision was made to get the passengers out even if their bags were late. My bag was delivered to my hotel the following day. Other cases have been extremely tight connections (that I have willingly chosen to book, against my better judgement) where there is barely enough time to get ME to the connection much less a bag buried in a hold somewhere. From your link, the success rate for bag transportation ranges from 99.85% to 99.07%. I honestly don't know how much better it can get. There must be something going on that people have a perception that bag loss is common, because I take 30-50 trips per year, almost all of them through Chicago (which has a reputation) and almost all of them 2 legs, which is 160 loading operations per year (~40 trips, two legs each, round trip) and no unexplained bag losses or delays. Is there a specific mode of air travel, like the crazy weird itineraries that people come up with to save $60 on airfare? Or weird, oddly-shaped, hard-to-handle bags? (I've seen taped-up coolers and trash bags used as checked luggage) Broken luggage? That's a different story. Airlines have broken so many of my suitcases that I now transport my dirty laundry home in a Pelican Air 1615. (edit: and they're doing their best to break that-- good luck!)