How It Works
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.
What Happens to the Contents of the Bags?
Hover or click a number to see how we process the unclaimed items.
Show Up
The unclaimed bags arrive by tractor-trailer load at our complex processing facility.
Sort
Our team unpacks the bags and sorts the items into three general categories: Resell, Repurpose, and Recycle.
Shine
Clothing is sent to our high capacity laundry/dry cleaning facility - the largest dry cleaner in Alabama.
Secure
All electronic equipment is tested and cleared of personal data.
Substantiate
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.
You FOund WHat?!?!
See a sample of extraordinary finds over the last 50 years.
From a suit or armor to a 40ct. emerald ring,
our store has seen everything from A-Z!
You Found What?!
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).
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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!
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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!
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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!
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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!)
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
You Found What?!
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.
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Our History
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.