MORE THAN 60,000 ITEMS LOST IN UK AIRPORTS IN LAST YEAR

With people chasing the last of warmer temperatures, holiday-makers are being urged to keep an eye on their belongings. New data found that more than 60,000 items were turned into lost and found hubs in UK airports. That’s according to new data obtained by Confused.com from Luggage Point, which manages lost and found items in a number of UK airports.

The new data shows that a total of 62,897 items were handed in to lost and found between August 2023 and August 2024. This included London Luton, Birmingham, Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow airports. In English airports, 32,202 items were lost, and 30,695 went astray in Scottish ones.

They found the most commonly lost item to be unbranded items, such as standard reading glasses, clothing, and accessories such as belts and hats. This was followed by wearable tech and branded items that aren’t premium. Luggage Point collected this data from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London Luton Airports.

However, further research suggests that the number of items that go missing in airports could be higher. That’s as more than 2 in 5 (43%) Brits who’ve lost items while travelling did so in the airport.

But why were these items left behind? Research from Confused.com found that 2 in 5 (39%) people said they put the item down and forgot where they put it. Another 1 in 4 (25%) claimed their bag wasn’t closed, assuming the item must have fallen out. And almost 1 in 5 (19%) admit they might have left it when going through security.

And it seems essential travelling items are most at risk of being misplaced. According to the research, headphones were found to be the most commonly lost item in airports (23%).Glasses (17%) and books (17%) were right behind.

Coinciding with this, Luggage Point found over 8,000 pieces of wearable tech and electrical accessories lost. |This was followed by 1,617 pairs of glasses, and 480 books.

The top 10 most commonly lost items, according to Luggage Point

Type of item Number of lost items
Unbranded items (standard reading glasses, clothing, accessories such as belts and hats) 7,044
Wearable tech 5,467
Branded items – not premium 4,923
Costume jewellery 3,508
Bag 3,390
Tablet / iPad 2,968
Electrical Accessories 2,562
Non branded clothing 2,535
Smart phone 2,495
Premium jewellery 2,449
Of those who have lost items, more than 1 in 4 (27%) have lost items more than once, with the average person losing something twice.

And when it comes to families, it seems that having children often plays a big part in losing items. This could be because the child has lost the item, or the parents are distracted. That’s as nearly 1 in 3 (31%) cited being distracted by looking after children as the reason they think they lost their items. In some cases, parents believe their children were the ones to lose the item. Around 1 in 5 (19%) stated their child left the item while they were waiting for their flight.

A staggering number of lost items were related to children or babies. Almost 1 in 10 (8%) had lost a children’s tablet or iPad. A further 6% were left without their kid’s toy or stuffed animal, and 5% lost a kids blanket. Another 4% lost baby bottles and formula, and another 3% lost their car seat and buggy or nappy bag, respectively.

Overall, when it comes to how losing things impacted holiday goers, nearly half (46%) of those who have lost items in the airport never got the item back. And those who forked out to replace the items spent £154, on average. But for many, replacing the item didn’t only cause a dent in their pocket, but a great inconvenience. Nearly half (42%) were stressed about their lost item. But on top of that, more than 1 in 5 (22%) had to replace the item while on holiday as it was an essential.

In some more cases, 1 in 6 (16%) experienced issues at security and customs due to their lost item. Another 7% didn’t have any way to access money or essential documents. And in even more extreme scenarios, just over 1 in 20 (6%) missed their flight because of losing their items.

But for those who were reunited with their belongings, 1 in 4 (25%) found it themselves. A further 23% said it was handed in to airport staff. Nearly 1 in 5 (17%) said someone tracked them down and gave it to them.

And it seems that not finding an item could cause more than just an inconvenience, or additional costs to be replaced. That’s as some UK airports have a policy of holding fees for items kept in their lost and found. For example, Edinburgh Airport will hold your item at a charge of £10 for 42 days(1). Heathrow will store your item for 3 months, free of charge, and begin to charge after this point(2). Confused.com’s research found that, of those who had lost an item at the airport, nearly 1 in 5 (18%) were told if they didn’t collect it in a given time, it would be sold. Another 14% recall having to pay a fee when collecting their found item.

On average, Luggage Point found around 30% of all items received are returned with their owners. They commented it was especially higher for goods with high value such as laptops – of which typically more than 80% find their owners.

However, it seems that many holidaymakers are misplacing items while on their trip, with almost half (47%) of those surveyed losing items while on holiday. More than a third (36%) lost items on a holiday within the UK, while 17% lost them elsewhere in Europe. In most cases (28%) these items were reported lost from their hotel rooms. However more than 1 in 4 (26%) misplaced things while they were sightseeing, or at a restaurant (18%).

With so many travellers losing items, it’s promising that many take precautions to avoid losing valuable items. For example, keeping important items in carry-on luggage (61%) or using luggage tags (37%). However, it’s clear the risk remains high, with tens of thousands of items handed in at airports lost and found in a year.

To help lost items be reunited with their loving owners, Confused.com have launched a QR code tool. This allows people to discreetly add their details to their items. As part of the tool, holidaymakers can download and print their own personalised QR code and attach it to their items before heading to the airport. When personalising, the owner will be able to put in their contact details. This means anyone scanning it when found can get in touch to reunite them with their belongings.

Even if taking precautions like luggage tags or other tracking methods, travellers should always consider insurance for extra protection. This could cover them for costs of replacing items that aren’t returned, or other costs associated with the incident.

Alvaro Iturmendi, Travel insurance expert at Confused.com comments:

“Our latest research highlights a common travel nightmare – losing important items at the airport. While losing anything is inconvenient, misplaced valuables can turn a trip sour. But with travel insurance, you might be covered for the following:

Many travel insurance policies cover lost, stolen, or damaged belongings. This can be a lifesaver if you lose expensive items like tech, bank cards or jewellery.
If you’ve missed a flight due to losing an essential item like your passport or boarding pass, your policy might cover the cost of the flight.
Some policies even offer additional benefits like emergency cash assistance if you lose your bank cards or wallet.

“But this depends on the details of your policy and level of cover you have. If you’re heading on holiday, remember to check your specific policy details and consider adding on any extras if you’re worried about losing items. But to be sure any lost items are returned, adding our QR code labels to your item will ensure you’re reunited with your belongings.”

Marc Stewart, Director of Luggage Point also commented:

“We understand how misplacing a personal item can impact a traveller’s journey. And with over 15 years of experience in the field, we’ve seen many travellers experience stress. But in the past year alone, we’ve managed over 62,000 lost items across our English and Scottish airport locations, averaging about one item lost per 1,000 passengers.

“To help travellers keep their belongings safe, we offer the following tips:

Double-Check Before Moving On: Take a moment to ensure you have all your personal items.
Secure Essential Items: Keep important items like passports, wallets, and electronics in zipped compartments or bags that stay close to your body.
Label Your Belongings: Attach a luggage tag with your contact information to your bags and consider labelling valuable items discreetly inside.
Be Vigilant at Security Checks: Pay extra attention during security screenings, making sure you’ve collected all your items from the trays before proceeding.
Stay Calm and Focused: Travel can be stressful, but taking a moment to stay calm can help you remain attentive to your belongings. Rushing increases the likelihood of leaving something behind.

“Remember, losing something doesn’t have to mean it’s gone forever. We encourage passengers to reach out to us promptly if they’ve misplaced an item. Our commitment is to provide peace of mind through exceptional service, helping travellers focus on the journey ahead.”