Heathrow lost luggage forecast for a Virgin Atlantic non-stop

If you’re looking for forecasts of one of several ways your luggage can be lost when you arrive at Heathrow, I don’t think you’ll be successful. If I were you, I would not check a bag. In fact, I’m flying to FRA (Frankfurt) in two weeks and won’t check any luggage. It’s not worth it.

Chances are, with a nonstop flight, that you'll be fine. Some people act like you are taking your life in your hands if you check a bag. Most bags arrive with you. If you will be in London or vicinity for a few days after arrival, I wouldn't give it a second thought. Even if it gets left off your flight, if you file the missing luggage report, they will get it to you in a day or so. However if you will immediately start travelling about, then carry on only may be the answer.

I usually check luggage and the last time it was lost, or even delayed, was 1968. There's always a small risk, especially with connections, but the odds are very much in your favor. The main reason to carry bags on board is to save time after landing -- head right out of the airport instead of waiting (sometimes awhile) at baggage claim.

That said, take your valuables, travel documents, needed medications and such on board with you.

It is my understanding that the lost/delayed bag is about 1%. You chances would be 99% or better.

Fly VA from LAX to LHR nearly every November. Overnight flight. Have NEVER checked a bag. Always carry on.

Been flying VA ever since Branson created it. My flights have been on time, comfortable ( Premium Economy seat) with attentive staff, great entertainment options, tasty food and worth every penny spent on the ticket.

Next flight I’m going to try Upper Class. At this stage of life, why not?!

Pack light. It’s not like you are traveling to a Third World Country!

Although we tend to travel fairly light - we struggle to check more than 12-13kg, we routinely check our bags. I frankly can’t be bothered with wrangling my stuff into bags with all sorts of rules to follow to beat punitive charges. This is much more of an issue in Europe with the plethora of carriers in competition. I much prefer getting rid of most of my stuff on arrival at the airport and then being able to stroll around with a small rucksack with the essential stuff in it.

No doubt you have remembered an occasion when luggage was an issue at Heathrow, as it makes a great news story. The other 99 days when everything goes smoothly are never reported.

We flew Virgin Atlantic non-stop from LAX to Heathrow in late June this year and back again in late July. Checked luggage both ways because we were carrying hiking poles. Both bags arrived fine in both directions. Same thing in 2011 and 2004 back when we didn't pack quite as lightly. No lost bags. Can't predict what your experience will be, but as said earlier, having a non-stop flight helps since there's no baggage transfer from one plane to another to increase the odds of a mishap.

I generally don’t check a bag flying to Europe, but I have checked bags almost every time I fly home. 90% of the time that’s out of Heathrow and 100% of the time my luggage has shown up at baggage claim

I have never experienced a luggage problem flying in or out of Heathrow. That doesn't mean that your luggage couldn't go missing, but it is far more likely to travel without issue. I find it strangely comforting to have an Apple Airtag in my bag and be able to track its location. Always feels good to see it is on the plane with me when leaving.

I think you will be fine. Lost luggage happens when there are cancellations, bad connections, or when British Airways has its IT meltdowns. You are at least flying with Virgin Atlantic. We landed into the BA IT meltdown in May of 2017. Lost luggage for weeks. However, the chances of luggage getting lost are pretty small. We just had bad luck that particular weekend.

I'll add to the chorus, I flew LAX-LHR roundtrip on Virgin last December and had 2 checked bags and ... all went well. That is almost always the case. It's a nonstop, watch over the agent's shoulder as they tag your bag so it says LHR and has your name and then don't give it another thought.

For grins and giggles you can toss an Airtag in there and watch it make the flight with you.

Bear in mind that the OP if flying from OZ to the UK, not LA, so will definitely be stopping somewhere on the way.

John, AUS means Austin airport, Texas, not Australia.

In that case worrying about losing a checked bag is just silly. Of course it could conceivably happen, but the chances are vanishingly low.

In all my time flying, and it’s just got to 50 years, I have had bags not make it with me 5 times, 4 of them in one calendar year. In all cases they were two flights and the bags didn’t make the connection.

In every case but one I was reunited with my bags within 24 hours, twice within 4 hours, delivered to my home. The exception was an issue with my schedule - I flew to SFO, spent a night there, a night in Lincoln Nebraska and a night in Toronto before flying home. I agreed with BA that the bag would never catch me in Lincoln but it was there waiting in Toronto.