Photo © Unclaimed Baggage
Have you ever looked over at a fellow airline passenger and wondered what’s inside their bag? Unclaimed Baggage, the nation’s only retailer of lost luggage, released its annual “Found Report,” offering a glimpse into the most curious, costly and common items discovered in America’s unclaimed luggage throughout 2024.
“Since 1970, we’ve unpacked more than just belongings—we’ve discovered the unique stories behind travelers’ journeys,” said CEO & President Bryan Owens. “Each narrative sparks curiosity, evokes laughter and invites conversation. From the most valuable to the trendy, the ‘Found Report’ gives readers a first-class seat to the most compelling tales uncovered from the previous year.”
In 2024, airlines experienced another record-breaking year of passenger volume and amount of checked luggage. In July alone, airlines handled 45.6 million bags, according to the Bureau of Transportation. A small percentage of these—less than 0.05 percent to be exact—were unable to be reunited with their owners.
After a 90-day search, if luggage remains lost, travelers are compensated and the bags are sent to Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, Alabama, where the contents are reshined for retail, repurposed for charity or recycled responsibly.
Since their beginning in the 1970s, Unclaimed Baggage has diverted 3,300 garbage trucks’ worth of items from landfills.
In 2024, the team at Unclaimed Baggage sorted through countless suitcases, revealing more than two million items.
The “Found Report” divulges details of these items that entered its facility last year. The report reveals:
- The Top 40 Most Fascinating Finds: From a suit of armor to a freeze-dried chicken foot, you won’t believe what travelers packed last year!
- Most Valuable Treasures: Travelers packed to dress to impress, even their pets … a $10,000 suitcase, $39,000 diamond ring and $1,700 pet carrier all top the list.
- If Bags Could Talk: Some bags tell a more curious tale than others, such as “The Case of the Hotel Bandit” and a bag full of…rocks?
- Top Travel Trends: Like fashion runways, airport runways and overhead bins offer unique insights into cultural trends. Packing lists were defined by viral moments and dressing for comfort.
- Frequently Found Items: What are the most common items travelers pack? There’s a surprising gender difference in underwear packing habits.
“Left behind luggage gives us a snapshot of passengers’ lives,” said Sonni Hood, Senior Manager of PR and Communications. “Each year, the ‘Found Report’ connects those snapshots into a bigger picture—capturing unique insights into how we move, what we value most and how packing habits evolve and change over time.”
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Some more of the most interesting items included a movie script from The Goonies, a toilet seat, a full sheet of uncut $2 bills, silicone butt pads, a steel Roman soldier helmet, a letter signed by Eleanor Roosevelt dated 1944, and so much more.
Similarly, celebrating their 55th anniversary, the report featured some of the craziest things they’ve discovered in the last half-century, including a live rattlesnake, a 40-carat emerald, Egyptian artifacts from ancient times, and a puppet of Hoggle from the 1986 film Labyrinth.
Through their Reclaimed for Good Foundation, Unclaimed Baggage focuses on three key areas of purposeful investment: product, programs, and people. Under the “product” goal, they strive to donate one item for every item they sell, delivering truckloads of donations to support underserved communities and promote sustainability.
Similarly, to focus on “programs,” they partner with likeminded organizations like Love Luggage, where they bring suitcases to schools, charities, and businesses to hand paint to be given to foster children moving to a new home; Salvation Army to provide clothing and financial resources for their disaster relief initiatives and adult rehabilitation centers; and Operation Christmas Child, where they serve as a resource and collection center for the shoebox program offered by the charity every Christmas.
Lastly, to focus on “people,” they encourage their employees to participate in volunteer initiatives, including their Willow Street Serve Day, where they give back to their local neighborhood; and the Marriage and Family Conference to focus on strengthening the home, and scholarships for attendees.
Unclaimed Baggage began in 1970 when Alabama native Doyle Owens borrowed a pickup truck, $300 and secured a deal with Trailways Bus Line to buy left-behind bags. What started as a small venture evolved into a worldwide omnichannel operation, which today includes a 50,000-square-foot retail facility and online store attracting millions internationally.
“The world of lost luggage is full of stories to ponder and surprises to behold—some more unexpected than others,” said Owens.
