It’s every traveller’s worst fear when getting onboard a flight – the prospect of never being reunited with your beloved belongings.
Now, an alarming new TikTok trend has created an all-new fear for jet-setters, with a rise in so-called ‘lost luggage hauls’, in which unclaimed suitcases are being auctioned off and then opened up on camera.
In a viral video amassing more than 14 million views, Becky Chorlton, from Lymm in Cheshire, spent £80 on luggage that had been abandoned at London‘s Heathrow Airport.
While the airport holds on to passengers’ items for up to three months, cases left unclaimed for prolonged periods are sometimes given to auction houses who then sell them (including all of the contents inside), to the highest bidder.
Becky, who took to TikTok to share her newly purchased items, uncovered that the Delsy suitcase she had successfully bid for, retailing at around £275 at Selfridges, contained items such as underwear and a navy Tommy Hilfiger women’s waterproof jacket, which sells for around £100.
Viewers were quick to take to the comments of the widely-circulated video to express their outrage at the growing trend, with one commenter saying they felt ‘violated’ at the prospect of a stranger being able to purchase their lost items, while another remarked: ‘New fear unlocked: watching an influencer gleefully rip apart my lost luggage on TikTok’.
Following the success of her recent purchase, Becky then took to Instagram to show the items inside another abandoned suitcase she had bought.
To her surprise, she uncovered a white iPad.
Following a rise in so-called ‘lost luggage hauls’, in which unclaimed suitcases are being auctioned off and then opened up on camera, Becky Chorlton, from Lymm in Cheshire, went viral on TikTok after spending £80 on luggage that had been abandoned at London’s Heathrow Airport
Following the success of her recent purchase, Becky took to Instagram to show the items inside another abandoned suitcase she had bought. To her surprise, she found a white iPad
Although the influencer was unsure what generation it is, Apple began getting rid of the middle button in 2021.
As this iPad has a middle button, it would mean that it is at least four years old and could retail for around £150 second-hand.
Now, with up to 100,000 bags going missing daily and an increasing number of people looking to purchase abandoned suitcases in the hopes of making a profit, Alicia Hempsted, a travel insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, has shared her top tips from ensuring your luggage doesn’t go astray.
Firstly, and even before stepping foot onboard a flight, Alicia advises travellers to be mindful of the specifics of their baggage insurance.
She said: ‘Whether you’re heading on a family holiday or business trip, making sure your items are covered can save you stress and money.’
While she insists that most travel insurance is likely to include ‘baggage cover as standard’, it is important to look into the specifics of what that coverage provides, with the travel expert recommending extra cover for those travelling with high-value belongings.
Alicia also advises purchasing gadget cover, often an optional add-on, for expensive tech items like laptops or phones, and declaring high-value items such as jewellery or designer clothing as they may require additional cover.
Up to 100,000 pieces of luggage go missing daily globally, according to the latest report by aviation data specialists at Sita
In the worst case scenario that holidaymakers’ bags do go missing, Alicia, a travel insurance expert, insists that ‘acting quickly is key’
Next, when packing for your long-awaited trip, the travel insurance expert suggests taking a moment to document your important belongings, snapping a photograph of your clothes to ensure that you have a record of your bags’ contents.
She said: ‘Take photos of your items to document their condition before packing them, and when possible include receipts to prove their value. These could be lifesavers if you ever need to make a claim.’
Ms Hempsted also advises making your bags stand out with unique decorations and labels (and ensuring to double check those when picking up your bags at the end of a trip) while also keeping the upmost essential items in carry-on luggage.
For those particularly fearful about the risk of their items going missing, investing in a GPS tracker may be a viable and reassuring option, Ms Hempsted says.
In November 2024, at least 15 major US airlines, including United Airlines, announced that they would be implementing a new ‘Share Item Location’ feature for travellers who use Apple AirTags in order to find their lost luggage.
Lastly, holidaymakers are advised to avoid short layovers, with tight connections and rushed transfers ‘increasing the risk of your bag getting lost’.
In spite of these preventative methods, in the worst case scenario that your bags do go missing, Ms Hempsted insists that ‘acting quickly is key’.
She remarked: ‘Reporting the loss immediately, keeping track of any documentation, and having proof of your belongings can make the claims process much smoother.’
While many passengers may feel defeated at the prospect of making a claim, Ms Hempsted also assures that you should not ‘lose hope’ that your items may never return.
In the meantime, alongside liaising with the airline and familiarising yourself with their specific policies, she recommends ‘checking if your travel insurance covers emergency purchases like clothing and toiletries to tide you over’.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .