The Fascinating World of Lost Luggage Auctions: Inside the Yellow Suitcase

At Greasby’s Auction House in Tooting, South London, a bright yellow suitcase caught my attention. Locked, heavy, and gleaming like new, it wasn’t just an ordinary travel bag—it was someone’s unclaimed luggage, filled with belongings I could only discover if I placed the winning bid.

I decided to take a gamble. Along with the yellow suitcase, I bid on four more: a large black case, a blue one with a compass in the handle, a chequered wheelie, and a piece of smart hand luggage. The next day, I found out I had won four of them for £100. What followed was an experience many now call “suitcase gambling.”

Why Lost Luggage Ends Up at Auction

Every year, millions of bags are mishandled by airlines. While 92% are eventually reunited with their owners, thousands remain unclaimed. After three months, these bags are sold to auction houses like Greasby’s or resellers such as Unclaimed Baggage in Alabama, which has turned lost luggage into a global business.

Post-pandemic travel chaos worsened the problem. In 2022, about 26 million bags were mishandled worldwide, largely due to staff shortages and tagging errors. Airlines are now investing in AI, digital systems, and tracking technology like Apple’s AirTag to reduce losses.

The Thrill of the Unknown

For buyers, suitcase auctions are a mix of risk, surprise, and bargain-hunting. TikTok and Instagram are filled with videos of influencers unboxing mysterious luggage, with millions tuning in.

Richard Stacey, a physiotherapist from Kingston, once bought a Samsonite for £60 that contained Gucci sliders and neatly packed clothes. He resold items on eBay to cover the suitcase’s cost.

Chevelle Jacobs, who works for the Elizabeth line, found a Louis Vuitton handbag and designer shoes in a £20 suitcase, getting a quality travel bag at a fraction of retail price.

Becky Chorlton, a TikTok influencer, spent £80 on a lost Heathrow bag and her unboxing video gained more than 15 million views.

What I Found Inside

The yellow suitcase I bought turned out to be packed with freshly laundered clothes, hiking boots, and a football top—suggesting its owner, possibly a Scottish Rangers fan, lost it at the start of a trip.

The other suitcases were equally intriguing:

A black bag containing scarves, jumpsuits, and hen-party costumes.

A blue case that seemed to belong to a wedding guest, with a folded suit and tie.

A chequered wheelie filled with new children’s clothes, many with Ukrainian labels.

Each suitcase told its own story—sometimes cohesive, sometimes chaotic.

The Bigger Picture

While unboxing someone else’s belongings can feel unsettling, lost luggage auctions offer a sustainable alternative to landfill. Most items are reused, resold, or donated to charity shops.

For travelers, the lesson is simple: label your bag inside and out, make it stand out with tags or stickers, and consider using a tracker. After all, you never know who might end up unpacking your suitcase.