A new report claims that Palm Springs International Airport ranks second in the country…when it comes to losing or destroying your luggage.
The Desert Sun reports that PSP ranks only behind Reno-Tahoe when it comes to luggage claims:
Palm Springs International Airport ranks second in the country for the amount of paid or settled claims per 100,000 passengers handled by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, according a Desert Sun and USA Today review of TSA claims data from 2010 to 2014.
During the five-year period from 2010 to 2014, some 134 claims were filed with the TSA in Palm Springs by passengers claiming items were lost, stolen or damaged. Of these claims, 60 were paid or settled for amounts ranging from $7 to $632.
Of the 134 claims, 90 were for property loss, while 44 were for damages to property. And 81 percent of the claims incidents were related to checked baggage, which is not seen or touched by the bag’s owner until claiming it hours later at the baggage carousel.
And why does Palm Springs rank so high? Apparently, no one on staff knows how to handle a freakin’ golf bag without ripping it or losing it:
When thinking about why the value amount for claims paid at PSP is one of the top five in the country, Tom Nolan, executive director of Palm Springs International, reminds that visitors to the Coachella Valley often carry more luggage than the more typical traveler, and often bring with them less conventional pieces of luggage like golf bags.
“Leisure travelers typically take more clothing and personal items compared to business travelers that tend to carry less and do not check it in,” he said. “The national average number of check-in bags per passenger nationally is .6 per passenger, whereby PSP Airport’s average is 1.1.”
He has a point. Travelers who do not check their luggage, do not get their luggage lost or stolen by others. That is just solid logic and a great point right there. No wonder he is running an airport.
Luckily for us locals, PSP is usually so crazy expensive that it is usually way cheaper just to drive out to Ontario or LAX. But, even though you have to drive, at least your bags appear to be safer there.
