Should I check in my bags?

I'm flying American Airlines tomorrow. Do they have a habit of losing checked in luggage?

I'm a ticket and baggage agent and my advice to you would be to carry anything that's necessary for the first 24 hrs after you arrive. Like medication, car keys, bridesmaid dress if you are in a wedding the next day etc.

The reason I say 24 hrs is because if your bag doesn't arrive with you it usually arrives on the next flight, but that all depends on when the next flight is. Sometimes there are only one or two flights a day and therefore you may not get yours till the next day. Better safe than sorry.

You are allowed to carry one personal item such as your purse, brief case, or small backpack and one carry on bag like a duffel bag or 22 inch roll behind bag.

It's good to see folks asking these questions, and educating them selves about the flying process!

Just don't have anything in your bag that is valuable or that you can't live without. Put it in your cabin baggage or leave it at home.
You can replace clothes easily. Just buy new or used ones at your destination.

I doubt they would be worse than any other airline out there. If you have a bag that would fit in the overhead compartment I would just bring it on the plane. Then you don't have to worry about waiting around for your bag afterwards, at all.

If it's a straight through flight I don't see why you shouldn't check them but if you have stops I would carry them on the plane. There's a bigger chance of losing them if you have stops.