The Airport Guide

How airport lost and found actually works

Lost something at an airport? The first thing to know is that different offices handle different items. The airport operator's lost and found office (usually run by the airport authority or its police department) handles items left in public areas — terminals, restrooms, parking lots and rideshare zones. Items lost ON the aircraft or at the gate go to the airline's baggage service office, not the airport. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint go to TSA's lost and found. Going to the right office first saves you days.

Ground rules: file your claim as fast as possible — most offices describe and hold items for 30 days or less, sometimes far less. Describe the item precisely (brand, color, model, distinguishing marks, where and when you last had it). File the online claim form before calling; phone lines are often busy and many offices prefer online reports. And never pay anyone who promises to "recover" your item — legitimate airports never charge for lost and found.

Official lost and found pages of the 20 busiest US airports

Every link below was verified live on the airport's official website in November 2026. Airport sites change over time — if a link ever looks stale, search the airport's official website for "lost and found". Where no phone is published, use the online claim form on the airport's page.

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) — official lost and found page (Atlanta Airlines Terminal Company). No phone published — online report and email only.
• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) — official lost and found page. Phone: +1-972-973-4420.
• Denver International Airport (DEN) — official lost and found page. Phone: (720) 336-2522 (text line also published: (720) 336-2818).
• Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) — official services page. No single airport lost and found number — the page links to per-agency lost and found numbers; public-area items are directed to Chicago Police at 773-686-2385.
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — official lost and found page (Port Authority virtual office via Chargerback). TSA checkpoint items: (718) 917-3999.
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO) — official lost and found page. Phone: (650) 821-7014. Public-area items go through SFPD lost and found; TSA checkpoint items via Covenant Aviation Security: (650) 457-2670.
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) — official lost and found page. Phone: (206) 787-5312. Online report preferred.
• Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) — official airport contact page, which links to the dedicated lost and found page. Phone: 702-261-5134.
• Orlando International Airport (MCO) — official lost and found page. Online claim form only — no airport lost and found phone published.
• Miami International Airport (MIA) — official lost and found page. Online claim form only — no airport lost and found phone published.
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) — official lost and found page. Online reporting via Chargerback; no airport lost and found phone published (the page lists airline baggage numbers).
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) — official lost and found page (Port Authority virtual office via Chargerback). TSA checkpoint items: (908) 787-0667.
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) — official lost and found page. Phone: 602-273-3333 (Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; email also published: lostandfound@phoenix.gov).
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) — official lost and found page. Phone: 281-230-3299 (daily 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m.). TSA checkpoint items: +1-281-443-5301.
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) — official lost and found page (Massport). Online claim only — no airport lost and found phone published (CBP customs items: 617-568-1810).
• Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) — official FAQ page, lost and found section. Phone: 612-726-5141. Online report preferred.
• Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) — official lost and found page (Broward County). Phone: 954-359-2247, Ext. 3.
• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) — official lost and found page. Phone: (734) 942-3669. TSA checkpoint items: (734) 942-3126.
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) — official lost and found information. Phone: 215-937-6888. Online claims run through Chargerback.
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — official lost and found page. Online claims only — no phone published (the unit is managed by Airport Police).

Which office to contact

Left it in the terminal, restroom, or parking area? Start with the airport's official lost and found page above. Left it on the plane or at the gate? Contact the airline's baggage service office — the airport cannot help with items still on an aircraft. Left it at a security checkpoint? Contact TSA lost and found for that airport (the numbers above where published). Checked baggage that never arrived? That's mishandled baggage, not lost and found — file with your airline's baggage office before leaving the airport, and read our guide Lost Luggage? Here's Exactly What to Do.