U.S. airlines had baggage fee revenue of more than $6.7 billion last year, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. American Airlines alone earned almost $1.4 billion from checked bags, accounting for more than 2% of the carrier's full-year revenue.
For decades, most bags flew for free, but in recent years fees have surged, boosting the bottom line of the nation's carriers.
"There's a lot of complexity behind what goes into ensuring that a passenger's bag arrives at their destination with them," said Kirk Pilliner, general manager of Baggage Operations for Delta Air Lines.
At Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, more than 30 miles of conveyor belts, an army of 2,000 workers and a fleet of airport tugs ferry bags from the terminal to the aircraft to ensure passengers are reunited with their luggage at their destination.
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U.S. carriers hauled more than 470 million passenger bags last year.
So what steps do airlines take to prevent lost luggage and how does Delta Air Lines move 100,000 bags a day through the world's busiest airport? CNBC got a behind-the-scenes look at at Delta's baggage operation in Atlanta to find out.
