Losing luggage is a nightmare scenario for many travelers. It might mean having to buy a whole new wardrobe, or maybe even having to let go of something near and dear to you.
However, those lost items may be given a second chapter thanks to Unclaimed Baggage, a store and e-commerce site that resells many of the items lost while traveling.
“Airlines are very good at recovering lost baggage,” says Sonni Hood, public relations manager at Unclaimed Baggage. But, she added, “given that millions of people fly on planes every day, that percentage quickly adds up.”
The Scottsboro, Ala., store sees about 7,000 new items on its shelves every day, and about 5,000 new items each week on its online shopping portal.
Unclaimed Baggage is a new report released each year detailing the most common items lost in baggage that year.
“Everything that's going on in our culture ultimately influences what people are packing in their suitcases,” Hood said.
According to the Found report, some of the most common items in 2023 were underwear, shoes, and tablets/e-readers. (Sonni has vowed that this store will only sell unused underwear, so shop with confidence.)
She also said that you can learn a lot about consumer trends from lost packages. Lululemon is clearly gaining attention. Lululemon is currently one of the most popular brands in this store. The Stanley Cup will also see a surge in numbers in 2023, overtaking the previously popular Yeti and other Thermos brands. There are also waves in electronic devices.
“Last year, we found very few DSs, but we found a lot of Nintendo Switches,” Hood said.
The report lists some of the more novel finds of 2023, including two live snakes, 19 Rolex watches, a jar filled with shark teeth, and a 1980s Halloween card signed by President Richard Nixon. It also details.
How to avoid losing your bag while traveling
Hood says there are some simple steps travelers can take to reduce their chances of losing their belongings in the first place, or to increase their chances of getting their belongings back if something goes wrong. Apparently there is.
Here are her top tips:
- Label the inside and outside of your bag with your name and up-to-date contact information
- Remove old stickers and baggage tags from checked baggage
- Make your suitcase visible on the carousel to prevent someone from accidentally taking your suitcase away.
- Pack all essentials such as medicines in your carry-on bag
- And finally, don't rush
“When you get off a plane, it's easy to leave your Kindle, cell phone, and glasses in your seat,” says Hood. Make sure you have everything before you leave.
As someone who once misplaced a jacket in an overhead bin and spent hours trying to find it in the lost and found area at London Heathrow Airport, I agree.
As Mr. Hood mentioned earlier, airlines are generally very good at reuniting lost passengers. For example, I got that jacket back. If you forget something while traveling, here's what the four major U.S. airlines do:
American Airlines lost baggage procedure
American Airlines recommends filing a report with the airport or Transportation Security Administration if you know you lost something on the ground, but lost it on the plane, in the lounge, or aren't sure where on your trip. It is recommended. If you forget your luggage, there is a process to file a claim through the AA.
According to American Airlines, once you submit a claim, the airline will search your items for up to 30 days. Specifically, American Airlines requires that you report lost baggage directly to the baggage service office within four hours of arrival. We also have an online claim form and a checklist of items you must submit when reporting a lost bag and requesting a refund for its contents.
For all other individual products, AA has an online claim form which can be accessed by clicking here.
Delta Airlines lost baggage procedure
Delta offers an online form for lost, delayed or damaged baggage, lost on board, in a Delta lounge or gate area, and for unchecked items.
According to the airline, after receiving a report, it will search for missing baggage for about 21 days and for about 30 days for missing items that were not checked in. The airline recommends that you fill out the lost item report with as much detail as possible and that he submit the report within seven days of becoming aware of the lost item.
United Airlines lost baggage procedure
United Airlines has an online claim process for lost baggage that is not found within five days of arrival. The airline recommends that if your baggage is not there when you land, you should go to the baggage service airport or call the baggage recovery center if you have already left the airport. United Airlines requires passengers to report lost baggage within 24 hours within the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico, and within seven days for international destinations.
United also has an online form for unchecked missing items.
Southwest Airlines lost baggage procedure
Southwest Airlines is asking passengers to file a report directly at the airport's baggage service office if their baggage does not arrive, or online if they have already left the airport.
Southwest Airlines asks passengers to file claims within four hours of arrival for domestic flights and within seven days for international flights.
The lost baggage claim form also has an option for lost unchecked items.
Zach Wictor is a travel writer for USA TODAY based in New York. Please contact us at zwichter@usatoday.com.
