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TSA is constantly reminding us to pay attention when packing, posting lists of prohibited items, security requirements and more. You'd think that would mean most people's suitcases contain fairly normal items like socks and acceptable toiletries. But as it turns out, many travelers are packing some seriously strange stuff.
Every year, Unclaimed Baggage—the Scottsboro, Alabama retailer that sells items from lost airline luggage—releases its “Found Report,” a roundup of the most interesting things discovered inside bags that never made it home. The latest edition offers a peek into the weird, wonderful and occasionally very expensive things people flew with in 2025.
Lost luggage is rarer than you might think. Nearly 10 billion passengers flew globally last year, with about 27 million people taking to the skies every single day. More than 99.9 percent of checked bags make it back to their destination. But the few that don’t eventually end up in Scottsboro, after airlines spend 90 days trying to reunite them with their owners.
And that’s where things get interesting.
Among the standout discoveries this year was a suitcase packed entirely with rat poison. No clothes, no toiletries, just poison. Slightly more charming, but equally puzzling, was a set of fake human bones. Other eyebrow-raising finds included a full beekeeper suit, a fragment of meteorite and even a fully assembled robot.
Then there were the items that made the security line feel a little more glamorous. Staff uncovered some serious luxury goods hiding between the packing cubes: a $35,000 Rolex watch, a $10,800 Chanel handbag and a $12,500 Balenciaga leather jacket. Perhaps the flashiest find of all was a pair of diamond earrings worth $43,000. Jewelry popped up in other forms too, including a custom set of diamond-studded grills made from 10-karat gold.
The report also doubles as a snapshot of what travelers are into right now. Viral fashion trends showed up in luggage, including the much-hyped Trader Joe’s tote bag. There were also plenty of traditional and unique gold pieces, hinting at travelers leaning into statement accessories.
Some bags told deeper stories. Staff occasionally discover sentimental items like religious keepsakes or family heirlooms that hint at the person behind the suitcase. Others simply spark curiosity. Why travel with samurai swords? Where was the giant stuffed goose heading? Those mysteries rarely get solved.
For the team opening thousands of bags each year, every suitcase reveals clues about where people went, what they cared about and what they thought was essential enough to bring along for the ride. For you, it's a chance to snag these goods at amazing prices, whether in-store or online.
And for the first time ever, Unclaimed Baggage launched a nationwide treasure hunt. Through June 13, you'll receive a collectible card—featuring top finds from the "Found Report"—with each purchase. The first person to collect all 10 will win an all-expenses-paid weekend in Scottsboro, including travel, lodging, meals and a $1,000 Unclaimed Baggage gift card. Plus, they're hosting their first annual Unclaimed Auction event on June 13, when you can bid on items highlighted in the "Found Report," other one-of-a-kind finds and unprocessed mystery suitcases.
See the full report here.
Top 10 items in the 2025 Found Report
- Robot
- Bionic knee
- 10K gold diamond grills
- Meteorite
- Pair of fire poi
- Australian 1 ounce pure gold bar
- Samurai swords
- Bee-keeping suit
- Gold-plated golf clubs
- Teak didgeridoo