Berlin Airport Struggles with Baggage Delays

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is facing significant challenges with baggage handling, leading to growing frustration among passengers due to long waiting times and lost luggage.

A recent survey by Allianz Direct found that 11.85% of travellers at BER experience baggage issues, ranking the airport among the top four in Germany for such incidents. On average, passengers wait approximately 2.73 days for their luggage to be returned.

In 2024, BER served 25.5 million passengers, marking a 10.4% increase from the previous year. However, despite this growth, the airport continues to struggle with operational inefficiencies. Many passengers have shared frustrating experiences, including a Nigerian, who waited three days for his luggage after a flight from Lagos via Amsterdam.

Berlin is not alone in facing baggage problems—several German airports report even worse delays. In 2023, Saarbrücken Airport had the highest baggage delay rate at 16.92%, affecting nearly one in six travellers. Hannover Airport followed with 13.64% of trips impacted, with passengers waiting nearly four days for their luggage. Dresden Airport recorded the longest delays, averaging 4.5 days. In contrast, Leipzig-Halle Airport performed significantly better, with only 4.36% of trips affected and an average wait time of 2.44 days.

BER officials acknowledge the problem and say they are working on improvements. A spokesperson stated that infrastructure enhancements have been made to reduce baggage claim delays. However, external factors such as airline delays and logistical challenges continue to complicate baggage handling.

Despite these assurances, many travellers are demanding immediate and effective solutions to ensure timely baggage retrieval.

As BER continues to modernize its operations, passengers hope adopted measures will lead to tangible improvements in baggage handling and overall service quality.