Luggage loss is one of the most headache-inducing issues for passengers. At the UK's 20 main airports, on average, 2.5 million pieces of luggage "get lost" from their owners each year, with some suitcases parting ways forever. In the past year alone, over 70,000 pieces of luggage have never been reunited with their owners.
The above statistics were recently released by the British insurance company InsureandGo. According to a report by the UK’s *The Daily Telegraph* website referencing these statistics, more than 70,000 pieces of lost luggage last year had a combined value exceeding 7 million pounds.
The data shows that approximately 85% of lost luggage is returned to its owner within 48 hours. Unclaimed luggage is sent to auction houses, where proceeds from auctions are used for charitable causes. According to International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations, if airlines are unable to return luggage to its rightful owner within 100 days, they have the right to auction it off.