Most of the major air carriers have a contract with the Unclaimed Baggage Center (UBC) to handle lost luggage. The center receives the items from the air carrier -- after a 90-day waiting period for someone to claim the baggage -- before sorting the luggage for items of value. These items are then placed in the retail store and sold for a fraction -- usually 20 to 80 percent -- of the retail cost of the item.
The Center began operating in 1970 and remains a family business even today. The idea is to give bargain-savvy shoppers another place in which to score deals on items that would likely be thrown away by the airline after the 90-day waiting period. The current flagship store spans an entire city block in Scottsdale, and a smaller store is located in Boaz, Alabama.
To avoid having your luggage end up at the Unclaimed Baggage Center, you must claim any lost bags within the 90-day limit set by most major airline carriers. If you aren't sure if your luggage has been sent to the Center, you can contact the airline carrier on which you flew or the Center itself. However, once the time limit has passed, there is nothing you can to do to get your items back without going directly through the Center itself.
To avoid a total loss of unclaimed baggage, always include your name, address and most current phone number on your luggage tags. To be even more prudent, including a note inside the luggage, on top of all of your items, with a secondary contact name and number of where you -- or a trusted family member or friend -- can be reached in the event that your baggage is lost.
