Around 300 pieces of luggage go unclaimed from Heathrow, Stansted, and Gatwick every single month, so what happens to them? Many end up at unclaimed baggage auctions where you can bid on and buy lost treasures. If you like a little mystery, this could be your bag.
A lost suitcase at auction goes for anywhere between £10 and £100, and depending on the case, it can be worth it just for a quality piece of luggage.
But is it worth it? We’ll rummage around the details of buying lost luggage and unlock the pros and cons.
What is a lost luggage auction?
If a piece of luggage gets lost, airlines do their best to reunite it with its owner. They’ll check it over for identifying information like a luggage tag or accommodation receipts for names and addresses. There could also be distinctive items inside that could help them track down the owner.
After three months and exhausting all avenues, the luggage ends up for sale at auction. While this may seem a bit harsh, it’s a huge improvement on the previous system which involved incinerating or dumping the bags.
Airlines give all of the unclaimed baggage to private auction houses who then sell to the public. Anyone can turn up to a lost luggage auction, in person or online, you just have to register first.
When you buy a suitcase, however, you’re buying unknown contents, as you can’t see what’s inside until after you’ve won it. It could be full of dirty laundry or full of treasure. Some auction houses separate the contents and sell the suitcases empty and contents bundled together.
What should you expect to pay?
A suitcase at auction will cost anywhere between £10 and £100, depending on the size, brand, and condition of the case.
You’re usually allowed to inspect the item before you bid (although not the insides). This can give you an idea of what you want to set your price at.
You’ll also pay auction fees of around 15%–30% of the price, plus VAT which is around 20%. Make sure you factor these costs in if you’re setting yourself a bidding limit, as you can end up paying 50% more than your bidding price.
Where can you find lost luggage auctions?
In-person lost luggage auctions are Greasby’s in London, Mulberry in Glasgow, and Wellers in Guildford. There are lots of online places to buy unclaimed luggage, like BCVA and Undelivrd.
Greasby's
Greasby’s is the most popular auction house, as this is where you’ll buy unclaimed baggage from London airports. You can view the listings in person the Tuesday before the sale to view their conditions. Sometimes you can have a quick inspection of the contents, or will get a general description of what’s inside. Competition is fierce, so do your research if you want to win without over-bidding.
Greasby’s sometimes hold live auctions, but sometimes they only accept a commission (absentee) bid after viewing. This involves submitting a written bid of your maximum amount and the auctioneer will bid on your behalf up to that amount. Results of the auction are announced at 3pm after the sale.
Wellers
Wellers Auction House in Guildford is different in that you’re not bidding blind. Instead, the suitcases are sold empty and the contents separated and bagged into categories like ‘women’s clothes’ that you can also bid on, for a much lower price.
Wellers sometimes allow you to view items in advance and sometimes don’t. They also hold online auctions, and some of these you can view before. Auction fees are tiered depending on the amount you win your item for.
Mulberry Bank
Mulberry Bank Auctions is based in Glasgow and holds two auctions a month. Like Wellers, they also separate suitcases and contents, so you can bid on suitcases and collections of clothing and accessories separately.
You can take a look at their past auctions to see what previous lots have gone for. Highlights include a bundle of nine suitcases (small to medium) for £32, a box of protective cases for electronics for £16, and seven bags of neck pillows and blankets for £1.
Online auctions can be more convenient to attend, but for online sites like BCVA, you’ll still need to attend a viewing in person (ideally), and collect your item if you win. Some online auctions don’t feature viewings beforehand, making it trickier to properly appraise the item. Online platform Undelivrd is a little bit different from an auction as it sells unclaimed baggage in bulk at a flat rate, with delivery on top.
What should you expect to find?
Some auctions sell empty suitcases, so you have more of an idea of what you’re getting. A suitcase (empty or full) from a good brand in good condition can often be worth it – suitcases are expensive!
Here are some examples of brand-new suitcases to demonstrate the discount you could get:
If you’re able to snag any of these second-hand at auction under £80, you’ve saved yourself money already.
Most lost luggage auctions feature suitcases as is: full of traveller’s things. As you might expect, the majority of the contents will be clothing. If there are some good-quality items, you can keep or resell some of these on eBay, Vinted, Facebook Marketplace, or Thrift+.
You may get lucky with a high-value item here and there, such as electronics, jewellery, purses, handbags, hair appliances, and (unopened) cosmetics, although some auction houses remove high-price items to sell separately. But the whole point is that you don’t know, so don’t bank on finding treasure.
How to get the best bargain
Still interested? We’ve got some tips and tricks to make sure you’re prepared for your first lost luggage auction.
🔎Do your research
Before you attend, make sure you know what you’re looking for. Quality suitcase brands to look out for include Samsonite, it Luggage, Tripp, Antler, Briggs & Riley, and Eastpak, which can be expensive to buy first hand. Check the resell prices on places like eBay so you can see how much value you might get out of a second-hand one.
🔨Set a bidding limit
The number one rule of attending an auction is to know your limit. It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of a buzzing auction and overspend. Set a limit – per suitcase, per collection, or total – and stick to it.
💲Don’t forget about fees
There are several types of fees you’ll need to consider: auction fees, buyer’s premium, and VAT. These are all added onto the amount you win your bid for and because they are a percentage, it’s a changeable amount. Buyer’s premium fees can be tiered percentages based on the amount your bid comes in at. You’ll need to give yourself some wiggle room, since it’s hard to predict how much this will be.
🧳Attend advance viewings
Both in-person and online auctions allow you to view lot items before the auction – although not all do. Sometimes this means checking the condition of the exterior of the luggage, although sometimes you’ll be able to inspect the contents as well. Have a good look for things like damage, scratches, check the wheels and handle, and make sure zips work. If you’ve done research beforehand, you should be able to spot which suitcases are the best brand and quality.
💻Resell items on eBay, Vinted, and Facebook Marketplace
You can sell the lost luggage you’ve bought on eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Set your price based on the brand, quality, and condition of the case and based on what other similar items are going for. If you don’t want to sort out delivery for such a large item, you can set it as ‘collection only’.
Clothing and accessories from inside the luggage can also sell well, depending on what it is. As well as eBay and Facebook Marketplace, you can try Vinted, Thrift+, and ThredUp. It can be a good idea to offer the option of buying items together as a bundle (like three of the same style t-shirt in different colours), or discounts when shoppers buy more than one thing from you.
👁️Having a good eye can be invaluable
Not just for unclaimed baggage, but for clothing and accessories, too. Knowing what’s worth selling online and what’s better off donating to charity saves you time. Listing items can take a lot of time, and when you’ve got a binbag full of random clothes, picking out sellable items can be invaluable. We’ve got a whole guide full of tips and tricks of how to sell on Vinted to get you started.
🙋Quality items will have strong competition
Great-looking luggage from a good brand won’t go unnoticed, so make sure you’re ready with a good bid. If this is a little too much pressure for you, you can opt for smaller luggage, budget brands, or bundles of suitcases that will go for a lower price with less competition until you get the hang of it.
🏷️Keeping a quality suitcase can be a bargain in itself
Many people enjoy buying unclaimed baggage from auctions simply because it’s a thrifty way of finding a good suitcase. So, if you’re looking for a new piece of luggage for your next holiday, it could be the way to go.
So, are they worth it?
For many attendees, the excitement of an auction and the mystery items is worth the effort. So if it’s something you can see yourself enjoying, consider it a new hobby you’ve attained.
Making money out of unclaimed baggage auctions can take time, patience, and practice. Bear in mind it might not be the immediate money-maker you want, so make sure it’s also something you enjoy.
With practice and research, buying lost luggage could become a profitable pastime for you. You should have a good eye for recognising what items are worth and put in the time and work to re-selling individual items.
Another option for making money is to join the popular ‘unboxing’ video trend on social media and YouTube. If you’ve got a large online following, these videos are always very popular with viewers, watching as suitcases won at auction are opened and picked through for goodies.
Of course, it’s really only worthwhile if you live close to an auction house, as even the online auctions require collection once you've won (with the exception of Undelivrd).
💬What if I lose my luggage?
Report your missing suitcase before you leave the airport, where you’ll fill in a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) with details like the address of where you’re staying and a contact number. Keep a note of the reference number.
You’ll usually hear back within 72 hours and have your luggage delivered to where you’re staying. Sometimes, the airline will give you a complimentary bag of toiletries and other essentials. If not, and you need them, buy some and keep the receipts to claim back later.
After 21 days, luggage officially becomes lost and at this point, you are entitled to compensation. How much you can claim depends on the airline and where you were flying from and to. The maximum amount of compensation you get is usually around £1,000.
You’ll need to prove as much as you can, so having evidence like your PIR, boarding pass, and luggage tag are required. If you have receipts to prove the value of some of your contents, this can help. Check your travel insurance paperwork as well, as they may pay out for some things airlines won't.
The good news is that 92% of lost luggage finds its way back to its owner, so if you don’t spot it on the carousel after landing, fear not.
Alongside this reassuring figure, there are steps you can take to increase the likelihood of getting your bag back or stop it from getting lost in the first place:
🧳If there’s one thing you should have learned from this guide it’s that you should include as much identifying information as you can. This means a tag on the outside and something on the inside too. Include your name, a contact number, your home address, and your holiday address.
🧳A more brightly coloured or distinctive case is less likely to get mixed up with all the other black or dark grey ones, picked up accidentally by someone else, and is easier to spot on the carousel.
🧳Pack a few essentials in your hand luggage, like a change of underwear, a fresh top, a small cosmetics kit, and medication (which should always go in your hand luggage).
🧳Keep your baggage tag that you receive at bag drop. This is usually a sticker they put on the back of your passport.
🧳Perhaps our favourite tip is to buy an AirTag and keep one in each piece of luggage so you always know where it is, even if it gets lost.
Is unclaimed baggage worth unpacking?
If lost luggage auctions sound like your bag it could be a fun new hobby and potentially a way to make a little money.
As with most other side hustles, you’ll need a little practice and patience to become profitable. But if you get the hang of it, it can be a pretty cool and unusual way to make extra money.
It’s also a more sustainable way to get your hands on some new suitcases, bags, clothing, and accessories. Instead of buying first hand, you’re picking up items that would otherwise be thrown away.
Have you ever been to a lost luggage auction? What did you find inside? Let us know all the details in the comments below.