At the chain's Third Avenue and 23rd Street location, the instructor doubled as a fee collector, making change from a metal cash box it reminded me of those tiny Central American airports where the baggage handler turns out to be the pilot.

WSJ: In the Searching Pose

Virgin America had the best baggage handling rate of all the airlines (0.87 misplaced bags per 1, 000 passengers.) American Eagle showed improvement from 2011 but still came in last, fumbling baggage at a rate of 5.80 mishandled bags per 1, 000 passengers.

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The worst airline for baggage handling in the U.S. this year: American Eagle, the regional affiliate of AMR Corp.

WSJ: Flying Through the Airport

"Maryland might as well mandate that Southwest Airlines flights landing in the state have two tons of cement in their baggage holders, to even out its per-passenger cost with American and other majors, " says George Stalk, a Boston Consulting Group retailing expert.

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For every 1, 000 passengers, 3.5 lost baggage, more than the national average of 3.2 and worse than every big carrier but American.

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American Airlines, which was last among the nine largest airlines in on-time performance and baggage-handling.

WSJ: An Airline Report Card: Fewer Delays, Hassles Last Year, but Bumpy Times May Be Ahead