Owais Crawford
Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the United States and has one of the most advanced baggage handling systems in the world. Despite this, some bags still go unclaimed. Denver Airport has a Lost and Found department located in the Jeppesen Terminal, which is open from 8 am to 8 pm daily. The Lost and Found department offers a wide range of services, including an online inquiry system and a webpage where lost items can be viewed daily. Unclaimed luggage is either donated to the homeless community in Denver or auctioned off, with auctions held twice a year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What happens to lost luggage at Denver Airport? | Denver Airport has one of the most advanced baggage handling systems in the world. However, some bags still become unclaimed property. Unclaimed luggage is either auctioned off or donated to the homeless community in Denver. |
| Where is the Lost and Found office? | The Lost and Found office is located in the Jeppesen Terminal, Level 1, near doors 111-113 (on the east side). |
| What are the hours of operation? | The Lost and Found office is open from 8 am to 8 pm daily. Phone lines close 30 minutes before the closing time. |
| How do auctions work? | The auctions are held twice a year and are open to the public, with no admission or bidding fees. Items for auction include jewelry, electronics, clothing, and luggage. |
What You'll Learn
Denver Airport Lost and Found
Denver International Airport (DIA) is the largest airport in the United States and has one of the most advanced baggage handling systems in the world. Despite this, some luggage still goes unclaimed. Denver Airport has a Lost and Found facility located in the Jeppesen Terminal on Level 1 near doors 111-113 (on the east side). The Lost and Found department is open from 8 am to 8 pm daily and provides a 24-hour hotline for visitors with any queries. Staff are on hand to help reunite travellers with their items and can assist with filling out the necessary forms, which include providing detailed descriptions of items, contact information, and a photo if available.
Denver Airport donates unclaimed luggage to the homeless community in Denver. The Rescue Mission, a local charity, collects the luggage and distributes it to those in need. Last year, over 800 pieces of luggage were donated, and this number is expected to exceed 1,000 in 2019. Any remaining luggage is given to other community groups or donated to the Denver Police for K9 detection training.
Lost Property Auctions
Denver Airport holds lost property auctions twice a year, where items such as jewellery, electronics, clothing, and luggage that have been unclaimed for a certain amount of time are sold. These auctions are open to the public and free to attend, and proceeds go towards the costs of operating the Lost and Found Office.
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Denver Airport auctions off lost luggage
Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the United States and has one of the most advanced baggage handling systems in the world. However, some bags still go unclaimed. In these cases, the airport will auction off the items if they are not claimed within a certain period. The Denver International Airport Lost and Found Auctions are held twice a year and are open to the public, with no admission or bidding fees. Auction items include unclaimed jewellery, electronics, clothing, and luggage from the Lost and Found Office, and all proceeds go towards the costs of operating the Lost and Found department.
Denver Airport also donates unclaimed luggage to the homeless community in Denver. The Rescue Mission, a local charity, collects the luggage from the airport's loading docks and distributes it to those in need. In 2018, over 800 pieces of luggage were donated to community groups, and this number increased to 1,000 in 2019. The airport also donates luggage to the Denver Police for K9 detection training.
In addition to its auctions and donations, Denver International Airport has a Lost and Found department located in the Jeppesen Terminal, which is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm. The department provides a 24-hour hotline, an online inquiry system, and a webpage where lost items can be viewed daily. The staff assists travellers in filling out the necessary forms and offers email communication for those who cannot visit in person.
It is important to note that there have been scams reported on social media, where fake Facebook pages claim to be selling unclaimed luggage from Denver International Airport for $9.95. These pages are not associated with the airport and are designed to obtain personal and financial information from victims.
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Lost luggage donated to the homeless
While Denver International Airport does not sell lost luggage, it has been known to donate unclaimed luggage to people experiencing homelessness in the area. This act of charity is a way for the airport to give back to the community and help those in need. It is important to note that this practice is not unique to Denver International Airport, and other airports may also choose to donate unclaimed luggage to charitable organizations or sell it at auction if it remains unclaimed for a certain period.
In the case of Aunny Grace, a woman whose luggage was lost at Hollywood Burbank Airport, her belongings ended up in a homeless encampment in Hollywood. Grace was able to track her luggage using an Apple AirTag and found it in the possession of a homeless man who claimed to have purchased it. While this particular situation did not involve a direct donation from the airport to the homeless, it highlights the potential for lost luggage to end up in the hands of those in need.
Some airports, like Hollywood Burbank Airport, store delayed luggage in unsecured areas, making it vulnerable to theft. This can result in luggage ending up in homeless encampments, as was the case for Grace. While she was able to recover some of her belongings, the incident left her traumatized and demanding answers from the airline.
Incidents like Grace's raise questions about the responsibility of airlines and airports in ensuring the safe delivery of passengers' luggage. While it is understandable that some luggage may be lost or delayed due to the complexities of air travel, leaving bags unsecured increases the risk of theft and can have a significant impact on both the original owners and those who inadvertently receive the stolen goods.
To conclude, while Denver International Airport's practice of donating unclaimed luggage to the homeless is commendable, it is important for airports and airlines to prioritize securing luggage and preventing theft. By doing so, they can reduce the likelihood of lost luggage ending up in the wrong hands and causing further harm.
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Facebook scam selling lost luggage
Facebook scams involving the sale of lost luggage have been reported in various countries, including the Philippines, Malta, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, Norway, Qatar, Denmark, Ireland, and others. These scams typically involve fake Facebook pages pretending to be official airport pages, offering lost or unclaimed luggage for sale at a very low price, such as $3, $9.95, or €1. The scammers claim they are making space in warehouses or that the luggage has been unattended for more than six months and will be disposed of.
In reality, airports typically auction off unclaimed luggage through private auction houses or conduct suitcase auctions themselves on airport property. They do not sell unclaimed luggage on Facebook for extremely low prices. The fake Facebook pages are designed to trick people into providing their personal and financial information, such as banking and credit card details, passwords, and addresses. The scammers use photoshopped pictures of dozens of suitcases with airport logos and signs to make the scam seem legitimate. They also create a network of fabricated profiles that comment on the scam posts, posing as satisfied customers who have received suitcases filled with valuable items.
To protect yourself from such scams, it is important to be cautious when encountering Facebook ads or pages that seem too good to be true. Research the company or organization before providing any personal or financial information. Check for official warnings or reports of scams, and use tools like Bitdefender Scamio to verify suspicious content. Additionally, be wary of pages with a small number of followers, recent creation dates, and stock photos as profile and cover images, as these can be indicators of a fake page.
In the case of the Denver International Airport, a spokesperson has confirmed that the airport does not sell unclaimed baggage on Facebook for $10, as claimed by a scam Facebook page. The airport may auction off unclaimed items or donate the luggage to people experiencing homelessness, but they do not sell it through a Facebook page.
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Reporting lost luggage at Denver Airport
Denver International Airport (DEN) is one of the busiest airports in the world, renowned for having one of the most advanced baggage handling systems globally. Despite this, bags can still go missing. If your luggage is lost, there are several steps you can take to try and locate it.
Items Lost in Airport Terminals
If you suspect that you have lost an item in the public areas of the airport, including restrooms and any public interior or exterior areas (excluding security checkpoint areas, immigration and customs areas, and airline lounges), you can file a free claim with the airport's lost and found department.
Contact Information and Operating Hours
The lost and found department at Denver Airport can be contacted at (303) 342-4062. The office operates from Monday to Saturday between 8 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The physical location of the office is at Jeppesen Terminal Level 1 East, near doors 111-113. If driving, park on the East Side of the Main Terminal and follow the signs to Lost and Found. From Terminal Level 5, you can take the elevator to Level 1.
Items Lost at Security Checkpoint Areas
For items lost at a TSA security checkpoint, contact the TSA directly at +1-303-342-4062.
Items Lost on the Plane
If you believe you have left an item on the aircraft, you have several options. If you are still within the secure area of the airport, you can return to the arrival gate. If you have exited the secure area, go to the lost and found desk or visit the luggage/baggage services desk for your airline, typically located in the baggage claim area. If these options are unsuccessful, contact your airline directly.
Lost Checked Baggage
If your checked baggage does not appear on the carousel, report it to your airline's baggage service office, usually in the baggage claim area. They can help track and arrange the return of your bag.
How to File a Report
To file a lost item report, use the online form on the Denver Airport website. You will need to provide your first and last name, contact number, date and time of travel, airline used, and a detailed description of the property, including brand, colour, size, type, and identifiable features.
Collection and Charges
Once your lost item is found, you can collect it from the lost and found office. Please note that there may be storage, delivery, or processing fees associated with lost and found services.
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Frequently asked questions
Denver Airport does not sell lost luggage, but they do hold auctions twice a year where items that have been turned in to the Lost and Found Office and remained unclaimed are sold. The proceeds from these auctions are used to help pay for the costs of operating the Lost and Found Office.
The money made from the auctions covers the costs of operating the Lost and Found Office.
The luggage that isn't auctioned off is donated to the homeless community in Denver. Denver Airport donated over 800 pieces of luggage to the homeless community in 2018, and this number is expected to top 1,000 in 2019.
