Missing Items at Airport? Here’s TSA’s Lost and Found Guide

You arrive at the gate, buckle in, and settle down for your flight only to realize your earbuds—or worse, your passport—are missing. Maybe you left them in a security bin, or slipped your tablet into the seat-back pocket and forgotten it there. Losing personal items during the airport experience is frustrating, but it doesn’t have to mean giving up hope. The Transportation Security Administration estimates it recovers nearly 100,000 lost objects each year, and airlines, airport authorities, and the TSA’s own lost-and-found systems can help you get them back.

If you discover your item still at the security checkpoint before boarding, return immediately to the screening area and ask to speak with a supervisor. “If the item has been found, it can easily be returned,” says TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein. You may be asked to show another form of ID to confirm your identity before reclaiming your property.

Realizing you’ve left something behind after the plane takes off means using the TSA website’s Lost and Found portal. You’ll enter the airport code, date and a detailed description of your item so screeners can search the bins and conveyor belt area. Farbstein advises listing as many identifying details as possible—model numbers, colors, case styles, even a lock-screen photo for a phone. Once located, TSA holds recovered items for at least 30 days and will ship them to you if you cover postage, or you can arrange to pick them up in person.

Airlines handle items left behind on board. If you notice your child’s stuffed toy or expensive headphones in the overhead bin before you leave the gate area, ask a flight attendant or gate agent to retrieve them. Once you’re home, submit an online report through the carrier’s lost-and-found website—whether it’s Delta, American, United, JetBlue, or Southwest. You’ll supply your contact information and details about the missing item, and the airline will alert you if it turns up. Most carriers hold items for about 30 days before donating or discarding unclaimed property.

Lost items in the terminal—whether in a restroom, lounge, or restaurant—should be reported to the airport’s customer service desk or lost-and-found office. Major airports provide online reporting forms and phone numbers, and many have staffed kiosks for immediate assistance. Check your airport’s official website to find specific instructions for filing a claim and arranging a return.

If you leave belongings in a rental car, contact the rental agency’s lost-and-found department. Most agencies catalog found items and will hold them at the local office until you can arrange shipment or pick-up. Be prepared to describe your rental agreement and the lost item in detail.

Keep in mind that passports, Global Entry cards, and other federal IDs can serve as backup identification at TSA checkpoints, but you’re far better off carrying your Real ID–compliant driver’s license, permanent resident card, or passport to speed screening. A TSA spokesperson reminds travelers that roughly 81 percent already have compliant IDs; those without a Real ID typically face only modest delays, similar to drawing a random secondary-screening “SSSS” code on a boarding pass.

Whether you’ve misplaced an expensive gadget, irreplaceable keepsake, or essential documents, don’t assume it’s gone forever. Follow these steps: if it’s at the checkpoint, ask a supervisor; if on the plane, contact your airline; if in the terminal, reach out to airport lost and found; and for items at security, use TSA’s online portal. With patience and persistence, you can often be reunited with your lost possessions—and get back to enjoying your journey.

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