Where Do the Bags Come From?
Airline passengers waiting for their bags upon arrival are almost certain to see them riding atop the bag carousel. That’s because airlines use sophisticated tracking technology to reunite over 99.5% of bags with their owners right away. If a bag is truly lost, airlines pay out a claim to the passenger. It’s only after an extensive three-month search that an unclaimed bag is deemed truly orphaned, a fate realized by less than 0.03% of all checked luggage! That’s where we come in.
Unclaimed Baggage has purchasing agreements for unclaimed items with all domestic airlines and other travel and transportation companies. With five decades of experience processing large volumes of one-of-a-kind items, we maximize each item’s potential for a second life.
Hover or click a number to see how we process the unclaimed items.
The unclaimed bags arrive by tractor-trailer load at our complex processing facility.
Our team unpacks the bags and sorts the items into three general categories: Resell, Repurpose, and Recycle.
Clothing is sent to our high capacity laundry/dry cleaning facility - the largest dry cleaner in Alabama.
All electronic equipment is tested and cleared of personal data.
Our experienced retail professionals assess and price the items for selling - up to 80% below retail value. Fine jewelry is cleaned and appraised, and luxury items are authenticated.
Resell
Turning lost items into treasured finds
Only about 1/3 of all unclaimed items we receive can be sold. After these items go through our rigorous readiness process, we determine selling prices based on estimated retail values and conditions.
We stock approximately 7,000 unique, heavily discounted items each day in our retail store, and thousands more online, where they are discovered and “reclaimed” by new owners.
Shop Online
Repurpose
Providing valuable supplies to communities around the world
On average, for every item sold, we donate an additional item to someone in need. From the earliest days, our goal has been to find a purpose for any item possible. Over the past five decades, we have established partnerships with dozens of local, national, and global charity organizations so leftover items can be reclaimed for good.
Reclaimed For Good
Recycle
Promoting environmental stewardship and sustainability
We strive to minimize waste through reuse. But, inevitably, some items have to be discarded, particularly used personal products and paper. In these cases, all personal information is shredded and the items are responsibly recycled.
See a sample of extraordinary finds over the last 50 years.
From a suit of armour to a 40 ct. emerald ring, our store has seen everything from A-Z!
Aluminized Fire Suit
Take a look at this hot find! This shiny, silver aluminized fire suit is a protective garment used to shield firefighters from ambient heat. Aluminized fire suits similar to this one are used in factory settings (approach suits), aircraft fires (proximity suits), and situations where a firefighter must be fully engulfed in flames (entry suits).
Bear Pelt Packed in Salt
We once received a bear pelt that had been packed in salt prior to travel. It smelled terrible! Hunters and taxidermists salt animal pelts to preserve them after a hunt, but there are specific methods they must follow to do this successfully. It can take almost two weeks to properly cure an animal hide, so it’s possible this bear pelt had not been completely cured before it was lost in transit.
Camera from the Space Shuttle
This modified Nikon F camera from NASA’s Space Shuttle program is an Unclaimed Baggage find that’s truly out of this world! Designed in the late 1980s, this specialized model was one of the earliest iterations of the digital camera--and only three were made. Because of its rarity, we sent this camera back to NASA after its brief visit with us!
Dung Chen from Tibet
This 10-foot-long Tibetan dung chen that arrived at Unclaimed Baggage in 2002 is a ceremonial horn that’s often used in religious rituals. They’re well-known for their low, powerful notes that resemble an elephant’s call. Historically, the dung chen was often given as a political gift by the Chinese to impress bordering nations. The dung chen is collapsible for easy storage and travel.
Egyptian Burial Mask
One of the most unique and incredible finds we’ve seen here at Unclaimed baggage was an Egyptian burial mask. It arrived in a well-traveled Gucci suitcase that was filled with artifacts from the time of Moses--about 1500 BC. The artifacts were sold through Christie’s Auctions & Private Sales in New York City.
“Flirting” Fan from the 1800s
This beautiful, hand-painted “flirting fan” from the Victorian period is gilded in gold and reinforced with intricately-carved bone. Ladies throughout Europe used these fans to subtly communicate with men at social gatherings from the 16th to 19th centuries. The small “flirting mirror” in the fan’s top right corner allowed a lady to discreetly see whether her flutters were achieving the desired effect.
Grass Skirt, Polynesian Handmade
Grass skirts are common among a number of indigenous peoples around the world in locales such as Hawaii, Fiji, and Africa. These skirts are most commonly associated with Hawaiian hula dancing, which consists of over 300 dances. Each dance conveys a specific meaning or story through fluid hand and body movements. This particular grass skirt is an authentic, handmade Polynesian skirt.
Hoggle from Labyrinth
One of our most well-known finds is the four-foot-tall goblin puppet Hoggle, a key character from the Jim Henson fantasy film Labyrinth. To achieve Hoggle’s fantastical, lifelike movements for the film, five puppeteers were required to operate him in unison!
Hoggle arrived at Unclaimed Baggage in a deteriorated condition, as the materials used to build him weren’t meant to last long-term. He was lovingly restored by master doll doctor and artist Gary Sowatzka and now resides in our entryway, where he greets thousands of guests every year.
"Hoggle is the most complicated figure anyone has ever tried to use as a main character in a film – to get five people to move, act, and think as one is the hardest." - Jim Henson
Ivory Sculptures
We have found a number of beautiful, intricately-carved ivory sculptures and figurines. While each piece is unique and lovely in its own right, ivory is obtained through the illegal hunting of wild elephants. Because of this, it is illegal (in most cases) to sell ivory items in the United States.
Jeff Semmerling Clown Mask
Here’s a find that’s sure to make you smile: a handmade clown mask from Chicago-based artist Jeff Semmerling. Semmerling’s masks are well-known for their quality and comfort, and are used in theatrical productions, parades, and celebrations nationwide. Our mask features a prominent nose, rosy cheeks, and a row of bright pearly-whites.
Kimono
This gorgeous garment is a kimono--the national dress of Japan. Traditional kimonos are brightly-colored with intricate stitching, and often made from silk.
One of our regular customers has amassed multiple international collections from store purchases, including many kimonos, 175 Indian saris, traditional clothing from Persia, and over 200 African masks. She tells us that Unclaimed Baggage allows her to travel the world without ever leaving the country!
Lute
We were delighted when this intricately-carved, 15-string Renaissance lute made its way to Unclaimed Baggage. Lutes were popular stringed instruments during the Renaissance period. It was common for noblemen and women during the Renaissance period to learn to play the lute as part of their tutelage.
Masquerade Mask
Venetian masquerade masks date back as early as 12th century Venice. Wearing masks became popular during a time when Italy’s class structure was strict and unbending. Eventually, laws were passed that made it illegal to wear masks outside of Venice’s renowned Carnival.
Newspaper from France, 1934
This leather-bound, 1934 issue of the French newspaper Noir et Blanc (“black and white”) arrived at Unclaimed Baggage in 1998. It has 336 pages and contains news from April through December of that year.
Opium Scales
These Chinese weight scales were used for centuries to measure medicines, herbs, precious gems, and more. But in the 19th century, these scales were also used to measure opium--thus earning the nickname “opium scales”. Opium scales were designed to fit into compact, wooden cases carved into the shape of a violin or a fish.
Peace Pipe
This Native American ceremonial pipe--or “peace pipe”--is widely used in spiritual rituals. Peace pipes are shared among people who have gathered to extend and accept peace offerings.
Quilt, Amish Handmade
We have received an array of handmade, Amish quilts over the years. Some of them have come to us from Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s Amish Country, which is known nationwide for its beautiful quilts.
Rattlesnake (Live!)
Yes, you read that correctly--we once found a live rattlesnake in some of the luggage that arrived here at Unclaimed Baggage. (We did not send him to the sales floor!)
Shrunken Head
One of the most shocking and bizarre finds we’ve ever encountered was a medicine-man stick adorned with a shrunken head. Headhunting has been documented only in the Amazon rainforest’s northwestern region (Ecuador and Peru). Tribes such as the Aguaruna, Huambisa, Achuar, and Shuar have been known to shrink and collect human heads.
Tribal Stick with Real Teeth
This intricately-carved walking stick features the fierce face of a warrior. The carvings are detailed and high-quality, and upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that the warrior’s bared teeth are real.
Unicycle
This unicycle arrived in 2011, and it’s a great reminder that we all need a little more balance in our lives! Unicycles are one-wheeled vehicles that the rider pedals in order to propel it forward. Some unicycles have a small- to medium-size wheel, while others (like this one) have a large wheel. Either way, riding a unicycle requires uncanny balance and precision.
Violin Made by a Student of Stradivarius
This violin was made by a student of Antonio Stradivari, a world-renowned 17th-century luthier from Italy. Stradivari built guitars, cellos, harps, violas, and of course, violins. Stradivarius violins are among the most prized instruments in the world--making a violin built by one of his students the next best thing.
Whalebone Carving
This humpback whale vertebra has been ornately carved to feature an Inuit’s face on one side. Though hunting for humpbacks is widely restricted due to the whale’s endangered species status, indigenous peoples of Canada and northern Alaska continue to hunt them legally. Inuit hunters use whale blubber for oil, meat for food, and the bones for functional and artistic uses.
Xylophone
We have received an array of unusual xylophones from around the world. Some of our favorites include a xylophone from Neil Diamond’s 2008 tour (complete with the name-stamped case) and a xylophone from Africa made of an animal hide and gourd fragments.
Yves Saint Laurent Handbag
French designer Yves Saint Laurent was one of the most well-known fashion icons of the 20th century. Over the years, we have found and authenticated a number of Yves Saint Laurent handbags here at Unclaimed Baggage. We often unpack items made by the world’s most valuable luxury brands, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and more.
Zebra Skin, with Ears and Tail
What a wild find: a zebra skin complete with ears and tail! Surprisingly, zebras are legal to hunt in both the United States and Africa. Trophy hunters prize their beautiful, black-and-white pelts.
How It All Started
It began with a borrowed pickup truck and a $300 loan. In 1970, Doyle Owens headed out to Washington, D.C. to purchase his first load of unclaimed baggage. Fifty years and quite a few bags later, we've got quite the story to tell.