Lost and found guides
Lost something? Here's who has it.
The short answer: it depends on where you lost it. Left on a plane, it's with the airline. Left at the security checkpoint, it's with TSA at that airport. Left in a terminal, a station or a store, it's with whoever runs that place.
Report it to the right one as soon as you can, with a clear description, and keep the reference number they give you.
Who has it, by where you lost it
- On the plane (seat pocket, overhead bin, gate area): the airline you flew. Use the airline's own lost item form, not the airport's.
- At the security checkpoint (bins, X-ray belt): TSA at that airport. Each airport's TSA lost and found has its own contact, listed on tsa.gov.
- In the terminal (restrooms, restaurants, baggage claim, shuttles): the airport's own lost and found.
- On a train, subway or bus: the transit agency that runs it. Big systems often split it, so a commuter railroad can have its own office separate from the subway.
- In a ride or rental car: the company you rode with or rented from, usually through the app or the return location.
- A checked bag that never came off the belt: that's a delayed or lost bag, not lost and found. Report it to your airline before you leave the airport if you can.
Guides
Airlines
Airports
Trains and transit
Cars and rides
Each guide is written from the venue's own website and shows the date we last checked it. They're independent guides, not the venues' own pages.
Found something instead?
Next time
TSA's own lost and found page encourages travelers to put their contact information on the outside of laptops and other electronics, in case they're left behind. A TangoTag sticker on your bag, keys or laptop gives whoever finds it a way to reach you: they scan it with their phone camera and can call, text or leave you a note, without seeing your address. It isn't a tracker; it works when a person finds your thing and scans it.
Questions
Who has my item if I left it on a plane?
The airline you flew, not the airport. Use the airline's own lost item form, and include your flight and seat number.
Who has my item if I left it at airport security?
TSA at that airport. tsa.gov lists a lost and found contact for each airport, and TSA says it holds checkpoint items for at least 30 days.
Who has my item if I lost it in the airport terminal?
The airport's own lost and found, often run by the airport police. Check the airport's website for its claim form.
What should I include in a lost item report?
Brand, model, color, the case or cover, any stickers or engraving, what's inside, and when and where you last had it. The more specific, the easier it is to match.