April 9, 2019, 10:41 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Three, two, one: sold! Have you ever participated in an auction? Maybe. But have you ever bid on something without knowing its contents? TRAVELBOOK did—at a luggage auction at the airport. We explain how a luggage auction comes about and whether you really have a chance to snag a bargain.
It’s hard to believe what gets left behind at the airport: wheelchairs, laptops, and of course, suitcases with favorite tops and souvenirs. If these aren’t picked up, they go to a luggage auction.
Generally, an auction only takes place when the airline cannot reach the owner. As Lufthansa spokesperson Sandra Kraft explains to TRAVELBOOK: “If, despite extensive research by our central baggage tracing, we cannot reach the owner, Lufthansa makes unclaimed baggage available for a public luggage auction in accordance with the provisions of the German Civil Code,” Kraft says.
However, the auctions are not organized by the airline itself but by an auction house such as Kofferauktion 24 or Auktionshaus Wendt. Within two months, about 600-700 pieces of luggage arrive at Auktionshaus Wendt, which are then auctioned to about 200 bidders.
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What Happens at a Luggage Auction?
As the name suggests, forgotten suitcases and other lost belongings are sold to the highest bidder. Admittedly, it sounds exciting: You bid on a closed suitcase with contents unknown, not knowing what to expect. The contents of the suitcase also reveal something about a stranger you’ve never met and probably never will.
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Don’t expect to find a hidden treasure: Before the auction, the luggage is checked for valuables, cash, and personal items. Drugs, food, and perishable goods are also removed. This is a good thing, as the suitcases are usually kept for more than half a year, at least three months.
The proceeds from the luggage go partly to the auction house and partly to the airport. Many airports, such as Cologne/Bonn Airport, donate the money to a charitable organization. Incidentally, if the owner comes forward within two years, they will be reimbursed for the cash and the auctioned value of the suitcase, explains Auktionshaus Wendt upon TRAVELBOOK’s inquiry.
Is a Luggage Auction Really Worth It?
Travelbook tested it and bid at Cologne/Bonn Airport. What we won, how it went, and whether it’s worth it at all, you can see in the video!