why airlines are struggling

Picture this: you spend months planning your dream golf vacation, you invest thousands of dollars into perfecting every detail, and after finally making it to your destination, your golf clubs and luggage are nowhere to be found. Could you imagine your bucket list vacation being ruined by the airlines losing your bags? Unfortunately, for many people traveling to and from Scotland for this year’s Open Championship, this hypothetical scenario turned into a disastrous reality.

Due to serious staffing shortages and an insurmountable backlog, passengers arriving at Edinburgh Airport were forced to wait hours to have their checked luggage returned to them after their flight. In fact, a great deal of passengers never saw their luggage at all… at least not for another week after their arrival.

The result was a chaotic scene of frustrated travelers and hundreds, if not thousands, of unclaimed luggage and golf bags stacked in random piles in and around the airport. And with no security guarding the unorganized and unattended baggage, it was there for the taking… by anyone.

While the overwhelming number of bags and lack of staff at Edinburgh Airport were the latest culprits in an ongoing issue, they’re certainly not alone in their struggles. In 2021, the number of delayed, damaged, lost, or stolen bags by the airlines increased by 24% according to a study by SITA. And those numbers are only getting higher. 

For example, data published by the U.S. Department of Transportation reported close to 220,000 bags were mishandled by U.S. airlines in April 2022. That’s nearly double what it was a year prior.

As travel continues to bounce back following the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines simply can’t keep up with the demand. But, that shouldn’t deter you from traveling. It should just deter you from checking your bags. And that’s where Ship Sticks comes in.

Ship Sticks has long been a trusted and affordable service used to bypass baggage claim, bag-check, and all the other stressful airport checkpoints. They’ll collect your luggage and golf clubs from your home or office before your trip, and deliver them to your intended destination before your arrival. 

The solution to the airlines’ struggles isn’t to bring a carry-on only or to check a bag and simply hope for the best. The solution is to avoid the risk completely. When you ship your luggage and golf clubs ahead, you can travel with peace of mind knowing your bags are already at your destination.

In fact, all shipments come with complimentary insurance and an on-time delivery guarantee. It simply can’t be beat. 

If you happen to be traveling across the pond like those who were headed to the Open Championship, you can still ship ahead. Ship Sticks services 180 countries and territories so you can travel nearly anywhere entirely bag-free.

Baggage nightmares across the globe aren’t expected to resolve anytime soon. In Edinburgh Airport alone, the stockpile of luggage is predicted to last for months, if not into next year. 

There’s never been a better time to change the way you travel. Learn more about shipping your golf clubs and luggage ahead with Ship Sticks or get a free quote today.

Megan Williams

Meet Megan Williams, a wordsmith with a passion for golf, travel, and the epic combination of the two! Originally from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the Golf Capital of the World, Megan has played golf since she was a child, eventually playing competitively in college. She's since swapped her golf clubs for the keyboard and skillfully translates her on-course experiences into captivating narratives and insightful stories. When she's not crafting engaging content, you can catch her enjoying the company of her energetic golden retriever or trying new culinary delights around Tampa, Florida - her current stomping grounds. Join Megan on her literary journey as she explores golf courses and resorts worldwide, shares travel knowledge and shipping tips, covers industry news, and more - all exclusively on the Ship Sticks blog.