The single most useful thing to know about airport lost and found: there is usually not just one. An airport is shared by several organisations, and each one keeps the items found in its own area. Contacting the wrong one is the main reason people never get their things back.
Who has your item depends on where you left it
- On the aircraft (seat pocket, overhead bin, under the seat): the airline. Cabin crew and cleaners hand items to the airline or its ground-handling company — not to the airport.
- At the security checkpoint (trays, belts, screening area): the security service that runs the checkpoint. Many airports keep these items separately from the main lost and found. In the United States that is the TSA, which publishes lost and found contacts for each airport.
- In the terminal (gates, lounges, restrooms, shops, car parks, trains between terminals): the airport's lost and found, or in some countries the airport police.
- In a shop, café or lounge: ask the business itself first; they may hold items for a while before handing them on.
- Checked baggage that did not arrive: that is not lost property — it is a baggage claim with the airline. See our lost luggage guide.
Step 1: Act before you leave the airport
If you realise while you are still there, go back immediately. For items left on board, tell the gate staff or the airline's service desk at once — the aircraft may still be at the gate and the crew can check before the next flight boards. Once a plane has left, recovery takes much longer.
Step 2: File a report with the right organisation
Search for "[airline name] lost property" or "[airport name] lost and found" — most have an online form. Give:
- Flight number, date, and seat number (on your boarding pass or in the airline app)
- Exactly where you think you left it
- A detailed description: brand, model, colour, case, stickers, serial number, contents
- Photos if you have them, and your phone number and email
Keep your reference number. If you are unsure where the item was lost, report it to both the airline and the airport — it costs nothing and doubles your chances.
Step 3: Follow up — politely and regularly
Large airports handle a very large volume of items, and logging takes time. Check back after a few days and again after a week. Ask how long they hold items and what happens afterwards; unclaimed items are eventually disposed of, donated or auctioned.
Step 4: Widen the search
- Check the taxi, train or bus you took to or from the airport — see our transport guide.
- Use device tracking (Apple Find My, Google Find Hub) for phones, tablets, laptops and earbuds, and share the location with the airline or airport.
- Report the item on DokiFinder. Travellers who pick up items often do not know where to hand them in, and organisations including airports and airlines can list found items on DokiFinder. Report your lost item free and our matching will alert you if a matching found item appears.
Why a reward helps
Many items leave the airport in a stranger's bag — picked up "to hand in later". A clear, secure reward gives that person a reason to act. On DokiFinder the reward is calculated with a transparent formula and held in escrow, released only when you confirm you have your item back, and finders are identity-verified before they are paid.
Staying overnight before or after your flight? Our guide to getting items back from a hotel covers that case.
FAQ: Airport lost and found
I left my phone on the plane. What should I do first?
Tell the gate or the airline desk immediately while the aircraft may still be at the gate, then file the airline's lost property form with your seat number. Turn on device tracking and mark the phone as lost.
Can I call the airport to ask about an item?
Most large airports prefer online forms because items need to be matched against a description. Use the form, then follow up with your reference number.
How long do airports keep lost items?
It varies by airport, airline and country. Ask when you file your report, and follow up well before that date.
Will they ship my item to another country?
Many will, usually at your cost and sometimes through a courier service they partner with. Documents such as passports may instead be handed to the police or your embassy.