Air travelers lose more luggage this year

DENVER, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Lost luggage is up this year, giving U.S. travelers something to think about as they pack for their holiday trips.

The Rocky Mountain News said Monday that with 3.6-percent more people flying this Christmas, the number of people who arrive sans suitcases will go up as well.

"When (lost-bag) rates are on the rise, it tends to mirror our passenger loads," Frontier Airlines spokesman Steve Snyder told the newspaper.

Misdirected bags are up more than 12 percent during the first three quarters of 2007, the News said.

Travel experts say tighter security is prompting more passengers to keep their carry-on luggage to a minimum. There are also more plane-to-plane transfers as airlines make greater use of regional partnership agreements with other carriers.