You might have seen this one. I bought lost airport luggage and opened it on camera. The videos went viral and I ended up being featured in the Mirror, Manchester Evening News and CNN News18. Here's the full story.
How Do You Buy Lost Airport Luggage?
When passengers lose their bags and nobody claims them after a certain period, the airlines sell them off. They go through auction houses and lost property suppliers. The same kind of companies I already work with for Amazon returns and liquidation stock.
I paid about £10 for a Nike Air backpack. That's not a typo. Ten quid. You genuinely don't know what's inside. It could be designer gear. It could be dirty socks. That's what makes it exciting.
What Was Inside
The Nike backpack was interesting. I found cigarette butts, empty SIM cards, DeWalt headphones, reading glasses, safety gloves, a Red Bull can, trainers, bricklaying tools, a hi-vis vest, a jacket, a newspaper, a hotel invoice and electrical cables. Based on everything inside, this bag clearly belonged to a tradesman. Maybe someone like me in my plumbing days.
I've opened other bags too. One suitcase had broken Beats headphones, a battery pack, clothes, shoes and some items that were better left unmentioned. Let's just say not everything in lost luggage is pleasant.
The Strangest Thing I've Found
A glass jar of bone broth. Sealed. In a suitcase. I still have questions about that one.
The Best Finds
The most valuable items tend to be designer clothing and accessories. I've found brand new items with tags still attached. People pack expensive things in their luggage and when it goes missing, those items end up with people like me.
Why Did It Go Viral?
People love mystery content. The not knowing what's inside is what hooks people in. It's the same reason my pallet opening videos do well. There's a genuine thrill in unboxing something when you have no idea what you'll find.
The press coverage was surreal. Seeing my face in the Mirror and on CNN News18 was a moment I won't forget. It proved that the content we make resonates far beyond our existing audience.
Can You Do This Yourself?
Yes. Lost luggage auctions and suppliers exist in the UK. The prices are usually low because nobody knows the contents. It's a gamble. Some bags are worth ten times what you pay. Others are full of worn clothes and toiletries. If you treat it as content rather than pure profit, it's brilliant.