1. MoneySavingExpert.com
  2. Shopping
Skip to content of guide

In this guide

Tip Email

FREE Weekly MoneySaving email 

For all the latest deals, guides and loopholes simply sign up today - it’s spam free!

FAQs Privacy Past Emails Unsubscribe

Lost luggage auctions

Grab bargain unclaimed suitcases

Jenny Keefe
Jenny Keefe | Edited by Steve Nowottny
Updated 2 April 2019

Walking away with someone else's luggage could bag you big bucks. It's all about buying people's unclaimed suitcases, via lost luggage auctions.

Skip to content of guide

In this guide

MSE weekly email

FREE weekly MoneySaving email

For all the latest guides, deals and loopholes simply sign up today – it's spam-free!

FAQs Privacy Past Emails Unsubscribe

Is it all pants? Not necessarily – you may get lucky with designer goods. In fact, as many auction houses now separate the contents from the suitcases, you may not have to bother with any dirty laundry at all.

Sale prices vary, so expect to pay anything between £10 and £75 per case.

Of the big auction houses, Wellers and Mulberry Bank only sell empty cases – the contents are always taken out and sold separately. Greasbys and BCVA sell some empty suitcases, but others with clothes and other items still inside. Where suitcases are sold with their contents, auction houses will often let you see what's inside before you buy, or give a description, eg, "gents' clothing".

Either way, it's usually the suitcases themselves that are worth most. Even if you do buy a full suitcase, you're unlikely to get a bag brimming with diamonds. Airlines will have unlocked cases first – they need to check for passengers' ID and ensure what's in there is legal – and auction houses will remove significant valuables such as iPods, jewellery and perfume. 

If you try it, please feed back in the Airport Auctions forum thread.

It's pot luck. Could be full of designer gear or someone's soiled smalls!
Forumite seftonsun

Here's what happened when MSE went to a lost luggage auction... It's fair to say we got more than we bargained for, but check out the video to see how our bidding went and how much we reckon our haul would be worth. 

Lost luggage auction
Embedded YouTube Video

How can I best bag a bargain? Most auction houses let you inspect the contents or give descriptions. Go to the advance viewing, usually a day before bidding starts.

Note suitcases' make and models, then benchmark the case’s value on eBay – brands to watch out for include Samsonite, Tumi, Trunki and Linea.

Don’t get blinded by bidding fever – set a maximum and don’t be pushed past it. You’ll need to show photo ID and sometimes pay a refundable deposit to bid. 

Remember, if you get something you don't want, you can always flog it online – see our Ebay Selling Tips and Facebook Selling Tips for help.

Always factor in fees. Our typical price above includes the fees you'll usually pay. But it's important to understand that your final cost will be more than the amount the item closes for when you bid. 

There are two fees that may be applied.

  • The buyer’s premium: This is typically 15-20% of the item’s price – you also pay VAT on this premium. So if you successfully bid £30 for a case, and the buyer's premium was 20% (plus VAT) – the total payable would be £37.20.
  • VAT on the hammer price: A few auction houses also add 20% VAT to items' hammer prices. This would push your price to £43.20.

I've got the bug. Any other second-hand buying tricks? When it comes to eBay, many just bid. To home in on the uber-deals, try our 40+ Ebay Buying Secrets guide.

If you fancy buying some stolen goods on the cheap, check out our Police Auctions guide, which explains how to do it (and it's all entirely legal).

Help! The airline lost MY luggage – what should I do? Before you leave the baggage reclaim, go to the luggage or airline counter and fill in a 'property irregularity' report, keeping a copy for yourself. You can claim without one, but it will be easier with it. 

You then need to put in a claim with the airline within seven days – check with your airline for how to claim. If they don’t find it within 21 days, it’s officially lost. 

Related Guides

How much compensation could I get if the airline loses my luggage? There are no rules that set the amount – the maximum will be about £1,000, though it's very rare to get this much. You are likely to get more by going via your travel insurer, so check your policy. See the Travel Insurance guide.

MSE weekly email

FREE weekly MoneySaving email

For all the latest guides, deals and loopholes simply sign up today – it's spam-free!

FAQs Privacy Past Emails Unsubscribe
Share this guide
MSE Forum

Have your say in our forum!

Lost luggage auctions

Spotted out of date info/broken links? Email: brokenlink@moneysavingexpert.com

MSE tools & calculators

Clever ways to calculate your finances 

Credit Card Eligibility

See which cards are likely to accept you

Tool

Loans Eligibility

See which loans you've the best chance of getting

Tool

MSE App

Get MSE on your Apple or Android phone

Tool

Broadband Unbundled

Compare broadband deals & save

Tool

Mortgage best buys

Compares thousands of mortgages

Tool

Mortgage Calculator

Eight calcs for all your mortgage sums

Tool
Tools and calculators

What the * means above
If a link has an * by it, that means it is an affiliated link and therefore it helps MoneySavingExpert stay free to use, as it is tracked to us. If you go through it, it can sometimes result in a payment or benefit to the site. It's worth noting this means the third party used may be named on any credit agreements.

You shouldn’t notice any difference and the link will never negatively impact the product. Plus the editorial line (the things we write) is NEVER impacted by these links. We aim to look at all available products. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the top deal, it is still included in exactly the same way, just with a non-paying link. For more details, read How this site is financed.

MoneySavingExpert.com Limited is an appointed representative of MONY Group Financial Limited. MONY Group Financial Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 303190). The registered office address of both MONY Group PLC and MONY Group Financial Limited (registered in England No. 3157344) is MONY Group House, St. David's Park, Ewloe, Chester, CH5 3UZ.