Latest news with #lostluggage
The Sun
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
I forked out £136 trying the lost luggage trend – I doubled my money but my most exciting find turned was a BA freebie
WE'VE all heard of return pallets, but have you seen the lost luggage trend that's taken social media by storm? Recently, influencers have been going wild for unclaimed suitcases, with many splashing hundreds of pounds on the mystery bags. 7 7 7 But would you risk spending over £100 on someone's lost luggage - not having a clue what you'd find inside, but with a chance that the contents could be worth thousands? After seeing many TikTokers and YouTubers open lost luggage and finding all things from a Kindle, a huge selection of clothes and even hair straighteners, to a brand new pair of Ugg boots and an iPad, I decided to see what the fuss was all about. Last year alone, Google Trends saw a 100 per cent spike in searches for 'lost luggage' - abandoned suitcases usually full to the brim with clothes, souvenirs and random items. The 'lost and unclaimed' luggage comes from 'the world's busiest airports' and while some may find designer buys, quirky gifts or sometimes even gadgets, the possibilities are as varied as the travellers who once packed them. But there are a number of major drawbacks when buying lost luggage…the size and brand of the suitcase you receive will be totally random. Not only this, but if a person loses their luggage on the way back from a holiday, there's likely to be worn clothing inside - yes, you heard that correctly. After hearing countless content creators order theirs from Undelivrd, I managed to get my hands on one. According to those at Undelivrd, selling the lost luggage is a 'sustainable and economical way of dealing' with it. Rather than piles of suitcases heading straight to the dump, airports are auctioning them off to give the abandoned cases and the items inside a new 'forever home'. Of course, personal details are removed, but those at Undelivrd claimed that 'apart from that, everything is left as is.' Unveiling the Shocking Reality of Lost Luggage Purchases So I ordered myself a suitcase, which was listed online for £129.99. It ended up costing me £136.98 once the postage fees were piled on top, so not cheap. But would I find some steals? Or just a bunch of tatt and some dirty knickers? Much to my surprise, the suitcase only took a week to arrive. No box in sight, the case was wrapped in a black bin bag and was far from luxe. Not knowing the contents made it very exciting, but unsure on the condition of what I would find, I nervously got my Marigold Gloves at the ready. The sweaty, stale smell that was equivalent to the stench of a teenage boy's bedroom was horrendous Abby Wilson In the hope of stumbling upon some unexpected treasurers, I eagerly ripped off the bin bag, to find a black American Tourister case. After a quick Google search, I spotted that such suitcases are available to buy online for £129 - so technically you've made the money back on the case itself, even though it had clearly been used on numerous occasions and was visibly quite battered. But I didn't even have to unzip the case for the grim, musty smell to invade my nostrils. Think of a room full of years of mould and mildew - that's what it smelt like. The sweaty, stale smell that was equivalent to the stench of a teenage boy's bedroom was horrendous and is still, days later, giving me flashbacks and lingering in my nose. 7 7 7 While I was hoping to get my hands on a woman's suitcase, in the hope of topping up my wardrobe with some new clothes or maybe even some jewellery, I was disappointed to see that I had been sent a man's case. And I was even more gutted when I noticed that it was full of clothes that had clearly been worn. If you thought smelly socks were bad, I was on the verge of gagging when I spotted three pairs of worn pants. It appears that the man this case belonged to had potentially been on holiday to Portugal, as I immediately spotted two Algarve Jazz Festival grey t-shirts. Alongside this, there was an empty toiletry bag and an unbranded navy hoodie, which wasn't short of stains. How to buy lost luggage THE famous US store which sells off unclaimed baggage has launched an online shop - so you can buy more travellers' lost items. The Unclaimed Baggage Center, located in Alabama, has long been a destination for treasure hunters wanting to find a bargain from the abandoned suitcases. Located in the tiny town of Scottsboro, which has a population of 14,000, it is an unlikely tourist hotspot. Inside is a megastore of misplaced possessions taken from tens of thousands of suitcases, rucksacks and duffel bags, all lost on commercial flights across the US. Now, you don't have to travel to the US and can do your shopping online with their new online store. The centre has launched the online shopping experience as part of their 50th anniversary, having opened in 1970. Everything from clothing to electronics are found on the website - current items for sale include high-street dresses from $8 up to 18K bracelets worth over $13,000. They also have a weird and wonderful section which ranges from gold necklaces and diving equipment to designer gowns and signed memorabilia. Legally, airlines have a duty to reunite luggage with their owners within 90 days, but if that fails, bags end up at the centre. So frequent are these deliveries that the Unclaimed Baggage Center has around one million items on sale at any time, with 7,000 new items added to the shop floor every day. Not everything that is found is sold - a third is binned, including all underwear, while another third of it is donated to charity. Brenda Cantrell, the store's brand ambassador, says: 'Less than half a per cent of all lost luggage fails to make it back to its owners, but that's still thousands of bags every year. 'And the vast majority of those make their way here. We have exclusive contracts with all the major US carriers, making us the only store of this kind anywhere in the country.' According to journalist Jonathon Thompson who went there himself, the 40,000sqft centre is "more like a swanky department store than a musty charity shop," adding that items are separated into sections, which includes electronics, jewellery and even wedding clothes. Customers have also found bargains while shopping there - one person bought a £65 vase, only to find out later it was worth £15,000, while one piece of art valued at £45 was actually worth £20,000. The guy this suitcase belonged to was clearly a football fan, as I also stumbled across a Bayer 04 Leverkusen football scarf, which you can buy online for £14. As well as this, there was also a Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2023/24 home jersey, which are being flogged online for just under £70. Next, I spotted a H&M black hoodie, which is currently on the website for £27.99, as well as a pair of blue Adidas shorts, which if you buy them new, are £35. Much to my dismay, I was only halfway through and incredibly disappointed. Having said that, things appeared to look up when I saw a small The White Company toiletry bag. Yes, you get them free when you fly with British Airways, but it was the most exciting thing I'd seen so far, without a doubt. The beauty bags, which contain an eye mask, ear plugs and a mini toothbrush, are being flogged for £7 on eBay and are perfect for travelling. It was un-unused, unlike a lot of the other stuff in this case. Following this, I found a pair of barely worn, brown leather shoes from Asda, which are still available to order from the site for £25. And that's not all, as I also (unfortunately) found three pairs of Jack & Jones boxers, which when bought new, are £45 a pack. In total, the contents of my lost luggage - bought new - came to £223.98, not as high as I had hoped. If you add on the cost of the actual suitcase, it totals just over £350. While many may think that selling-on lost luggage contents could be a good earner, my haul proves that it is definitely a gamble. The smell of the case is still haunting me, so the thought of going through it all again and posting it on Vinted in the hope of earning a quick buck is not something I'm up for. Despite the battered hoodies and worn socks, everything was in reasonably decent condition, so I guess you could say it wasn't a total waste of time. But if you're hoping to find a new iPad or a posh designer bag, you should be aware that you'll have to take a chance when searching through lost luggage.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The airline who loses the most bags in the UK
As millions of Brits prepare to jet off to sunny destinations near and far this summer, new data reveals which major airlines are most likely to lose your luggage. Despite advancements in aviation technology and airport procedures, lost luggage remains a frustrating reality for holidaymakers - to the extent many opt to travel with carry-on or cabin bags only. While some airlines are taking measures to combat the issue and manage luggage more efficiently, it appears not all are as proactive in locating and returning unclaimed and missing goods. A recent study conducted by digital marketing agency, Ink Digital, analysed the average monthly search volume relating to lost baggage for each major airline operating in the UK. The total monthly search volume was then calculated and used to rank the airlines from most to least likely to lose passengers' luggage - with European carriers making the top five. Michael Ryan, Owner & CRO of Ink Digital, said: 'Lost luggage often arises due to tight layovers, staffing shortages, and mishandling during transfers. 'Passengers can reduce their risk by using carry-on luggage where possible, investing in smart trackers like AirTags, and ensuring they have proper travel insurance to cover any unexpected losses.' Read on to discover which ten airlines have a higher risk of losing luggage: 1. British Airways The UK's flagship carrier takes the crown as the airline most likely to lose luggage, with a staggering 6,938 monthly searches related to missing baggage. This could be a reflection of the fact passengers on BA flights appear to be traveling with less luggage these days. Recent figures from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) show that there were 451,500 metric tons of cargo carried on passenger flights in 2023, which is about 100,000 metric tons less than the 561,240 metric tons transported in 2019. 2. KLM The Dutch national carrier ranks second with 1,372 monthly searches about lost baggage. However, the airline reports that in 90 per cent of cases, delayed baggage is located and returned to passengers within three days. 3. easyJet According to the CAA, easyJet received the third highest number of complaints in the last quarter of 2024, with 2,953 cases opened The UK's busiest airline takes third place, with 1,208 searches per month. According to the CAA, easyJet received the third highest number of complaints in the last quarter of 2024, with 2,953 cases opened. 4. Emirates The airline, recognised for its luxury travel experience and high standards in customer service, surprisingly ranks fourth, with 1,048 monthly searches regarding missing luggage. The airline operates a major hub in Dubai, where baggage mishandling during transfers is suggested to contribute to the problem. 5. Lufthansa Germany's biggest airline follows in fifth place, with 987 monthly searches for lost baggage. As a key member of Star Alliance, it operates a great deal of long-haul and connecting flights, although the CAA reported the airline only gained two complaints in the last months of 2024. 6. Ryanair The popular low-cost airline reports 985 searches each month for missing baggage. The Irish airline experienced the highest number of complaints of all the major airlines operating in the UK in the third quarter of 2024, with a total of 3,240 complaints. 7. Turkish Airlines The rising global carrier records 803 searches relating to lost luggage each month. The airline received the seventh-highest number of total complaints towards the end of 2024, with 254 complaints registered according to the CAA. 8. Qatar Airways Qatar Airways, widely regarded for its unparalleled service, ranks eighth with 598 searches per month. Its global connections through Doha also suggests holidaymakers are more likely to experience baggage mishaps when transiting between flights. 9. American Airlines American Airlines appears in ninth place on the list, with 557 monthly searches regarding lost baggage. As one of the world's largest carriers, its extensive domestic and international operations could contribute to luggage mismanagement. 10. Aer Lingus Ireland's national airline rounds out the top 10, with 523 lost luggage-related searches per month. From October to December 2024, the airline received 28 complaints, ranking it 21st for total number of complaints.
