After an extensive 90-day search by airlines to reunite bags with their owner fails, the bags are deemed orphaned with the traveler compensated for their belongings. (Getty Images)
A $43,400 pair of diamond earrings, samurai swords, a $35,000 Rolex watch, gold-plated golf clubs, and even a beekeeper suit are among the standout items found in orphaned luggage, according to the latest Unclaimed Baggage report.
By the numbers:
Unclaimed Baggage says in 2025, nearly 10 billion passengers traveled by air globally, with an average of 27 million travelers flying every day. The company says 99.9% of all checked bags find their way back to their owner but a rare few end their journey as orphaned bags.
Timeline:
After an extensive 90-day search by airlines to reunite the bags with their owner fails, the bags are deemed orphaned with the traveler compensated for their belongings.
The abandoned bags then make their way to Unclaimed Baggage, a 50,000-square-foot retail store in Scottsboro, Alabama, where the items in the luggage are either sold for retail, repurposed for charity or recycled responsibly.
Dig deeper:
The weird finds include a beekeeper suit, a suitcase full of rat poison, a giant stuffed goose, a 12-pack case of sardines, a fake skeleton, and an armadillo purse.
A fully assembled robotic unit featuring articulated joints, electric motors, wiring, and control components was one of the top finds. (Unclaimed Baggage)
Top 10 unclaimed baggage items found in 2025
- A fully assembled robotic unit
- Bionic knee
- 10K gold diamond grills
- Meteorite
- A pair of fire poi used for fire dancing
- Australian 1 oz. pure gold bar
- Samurai swords
- Beekeeping suit
- Gold-plated golf clubs
- Teka didgeridoo wind instrument
Among the fashion finds was this Miss North Dakota USA 2025 State Costume "Aurora Borealis" designed by Ryan Castillo and inspired by the Aurora Borealis - Northern Lights. (Unclaimed Baggage )
Top 10 most valuable unclaimed baggage items found in 2025
- White diamond earrings valued at $43,400
- Stainless steel Rolex watch with 18K yellow gold and diamond dial valued at $35,000
- Tosca bass clarinet valued at $17,500
- Balenciaga leather jacket valued at $12,500
- T530 professional thermal camera valued at $12,119
- Chanel black classic 11.12 lambskin handbag valued at $10,800
- Elevare skin RED skincare device valued at $10,700
- Tom Ford 2020 belted 100% cashmere trench coat valued at $8,465
- Fully tricked out 2023 Apple MacBook Pro valued at $7,200
- Oscar De La Rente bateau silk Georgette gown valued at $6,690
The backstory:
Unclaimed Baggage was founded in 1970, and each year welcomes approximately 1 million visitors to its retail store and also operates an online store. Its philanthropic arm, Reclaimed for Good, partners with charitable organizations across the world to give items a second life and newfound purpose.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by Unclaimed Baggage and PR Newswire. This story was reported from Orlando.