Alaska Airlines Lost and Found Guide (What to Expect) [2023]

Have you recently lost or misplaced an item while traveling on Alaska Airlines? Well then you are in luck, our comprehensive guide to help you locate your item is exactly what you need. It can be very stressful to lose an item during your travels and unless the right steps are taken and taken quickly, the chances of recovering your item diminish considerably.

The important thing is to remain calm and take the necessary steps outlined in our comprehensive guide below to ensure that you have the best possible chance of being united with your lost item.

Alaska Airlines’ lost and found policy

People lose items while traveling on Alaska Airlines frequently so they have proper protocols and staff in place to look into helping their passengers recover their belongings.

The immediate step

Did you leave your belonging in the aircraft cabin itself? If you have and you are still in the aircraft, do not leave the aircraft. Due to increased security protocols in place these days, once you leave the aircraft you cannot go back in. Patiently make your way back to your seat and search it as thoroughly as possible. 

If you’re reading this article, however, chances are you have already left the aircraft.

In the event that you have left the aircraft but are still near the arrival gate, immediately make your way back to the gate area and get hold of an Alaska Airline official. Usually, these people have access to the aircraft or know someone who does have access.

Give this person all the information on what your item looks like and give them your seat number. If they send someone back immediately and find your item you might be able to get it back right then and there.

In other situations, if they find it later the staff will follow the lost and found protocols and may forward the item to the airline or airport’s lost and found counter.

The reason why I am constantly urging you to do things immediately is that there is a short window of opportunity before it becomes more and more unlikely that you will find your lost belongings. Anyone from the crew, cleaners to the other passengers may pocket your item.

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You have left the aircraft but not the airport

If you are still in the airport premises but can’t make your way back to the aircraft arrival gate then your most prudent line of action is to immediately find an Alaska Airline counter and get hold of the staff there. The Alaska staff is trained to help you with starting the lost and found recovery process.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You may want to get hold of the general airport staff instead of the Alaska Airline staff but it will be most likely counterproductive. In most cases, they will simply go through their own protocols and have you end up with the Alaska Airlines staff because that is the aircraft you arrived on. Needless to say that the only thing this will have achieved is to have wasted precious time.

You may be asking why time is of so much importance here. Well, since the Covid-19 pandemic, aircraft are thoroughly sanitized by larger cleaning staff. The longer it takes for officials to be alerted about your missing item the more people go through your seat.

Now, these people are usually very professional and if they find any unusual items on or around a seat they report it immediately. Having said that, in real life, not everyone is as honest.

Related: Airlines & Airports Lost & Found Tips (Ultimate Guide)

Alaska Airlines baggage services counters

The next plan of action is to locate the Alaska Baggage Services counter. You can find them easily by going to any information desk usually spread throughout airports.

While Alaska Airlines baggage services counters primarily deal with things like lost luggage, the staff at these counters may help you even when you have lost something on a plane.

Usually, they will ask you to fill out either this form or a printed version of it. This is also the form you can fill out if you have already left at the airport.

You must enter as much detail as possible in this form regarding both your travel and the item itself.

On your travel details mention your flight number, arrival/departure time, boarding airport final destination (if you are in transit), seat number, etc.

It is also important to give as much information as you have on hand like: make, model, color, serial number, etc. Any distinguishing marks such as scratches or customization marks on the body can quickly help confirm to the authorities that the item indeed belongs to you.

Note: If the staff has not been able to find your item while you are at the airport, make sure you are very clear on the next steps before you leave the airport. Ask the staff about the next procedural steps, local contact details (phone, email, etc), when you should follow up, policies on lost and found, etc.

You can visit this page to find the phone number(s) of every Alaska Airlines local agent for all US airports and if you are unable to reach them for any reason you can call the system-wide baggage support office for general assistance at 1-877-815-8253. The working hours are daily between 6:00 am – 10:00 pm (PT).

Items left at the TSA Security Checkpoint

In the event that you feel you have misplaced your items in the above-mentioned areas instead of the aircraft then you have to make your way to the TSA security staff as these specific areas come under the jurisdiction of the TSA.

TSA has its own Lost and Found department at all US airports and you can find the contact details for the relevant one here.

TSA has officially partnered with Rejjee to help you find lost items misplaced in TSA’s jurisdiction. The service is absolutely free and easy to use and you can file an online report to start the process.

Related: What Happens if Your Item Is Not Allowed Through TSA Security? Can You Get It Back?

For items lost in and about the airport facility

In the event that you have not misplaced the item on a flight or any of the TSA designated areas mentioned above then your lost item will probably find its way to the airport’s Lost and Found Counter… yes each airport authority also has its own lost and found department it may be associated with the airport police department.

The general staff at the airport will be able to assist you to find this counter. In any case, even if you have registered a complaint with the airline or the TSA, it is a good idea to make your way to the airport Lost and Found and search for your item here as well. In some cases, lost items in other areas have been known to turn up here.

If you are registering for a complaint here, again make sure you give as much detail as possible for these people to help locate your item. Remember that these people have their own dedicated contact numbers and emails so make sure you get a local person’s number and non-generic email before you leave the airport.

Responses on generic emails are usually slower versus those from a specific person who is aware of your case.

There is also a chance that you might have left your belongings at a local business at the airport such as a rental service or a restaurant. In this case, your best bet is to contact them directly as they will hold on to the item for a while in the event the owner shows up before they pass it on to the airport authorities.

What if you have left the airport?

Luckily, even if you have left the airport Alaska Airlines has the lost item form available online here. Filling it out and submitting it will automatically initiate the search procedure. But remember that you must do this within 14 days of having lost the item otherwise it is very unlikely that you will be seeing your belongings again.

Also if you happen to discover more details about your lost item like a serial number, after you have left the airport you can use this form to update the relevant information.

Traveling first or business class?

Traveling on first or business class has its own perks and one of them is the extra attention you get from the airline staff. 

Because airlines make extra effort to please passengers using their premium services or those passengers who are part of their frequent flyers clubs, it is a good idea to mention if you are using any of them.

Third-party services

There are also independent third-party Lost and Found services out there like Crowdfind but I normally don’t recommend you go to them… unless of course, they are officially working with your airline. If, however, your item is really valuable or very important to you these options are available.

How long will Alaska Airlines keep looking for your item?

Alaska will look for your item for a period of 30 days from the filing of the report. After that, they will send you an email informing you that the search was unsuccessful.

Final word

The odds of finding a lost item at airports are generally better than in other places due to the extra security in place these days. Also, if you act quickly and follow the right steps that we have outlined in the guide above your chances of finding your lost item increase greatly.

I wish you the best of luck in recovering whatever it is that you have lost.

American Airlines Lost and Found Guide (What to Expect) [2023]

Losing an item when flying can be an incredibly stressful and frustrating experience. But there are many people who lose items on planes or in airports every day that get reunited with their valuables — even expensive items like laptops and tablets!

So if you recently lost an item on an American Airlines flight there is still hope for you. In this article, I will break down what to expect with the American Airlines lost and found process.

American Airlines Lost and Found

Items left on American Airlines aircraft are returned to their rightful owners all the time so if you have left something on the plane don’t lose hope and just follow these guidelines.

If you are exiting or have just exited the plane and realize you left an item on the plane you should contact the nearest gate agent immediately. However, if you have already left the airport then you will need to file a claim online.

NOTE: This is a different process than losing your luggage. If your luggage has been lost or it’s not showing up at the baggage claim there is a separate process for reclaiming your baggage.

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Still at the airport

If you are just exiting the plane or have already exited the plane and are still located in the airport then your best course of action is to contact an American Airlines agent.

I would advise you to head over to the gate that you arrived at and try to speak to an agent at the desk right there. Even better, if you can locate a crew member or even a pilot from your flight they might be willing and capable of going back on the plane and retrieving your item.

If they are searching for a small item such as a wedding ring and they cannot locate it American Airlines planes are deep cleaned every night. This means that the cleaning crew might be able to find it later so you still have hope but the process to recovering the item will be a little different (you’ll likely have to rely on the online process discussed below).

If you have already made your way through the airport and you were not able to make your way back to the gates without going through TSA airport security then you may want to contact an American Airlines agent at an information desk.

Provide them with all of your details like your flight number and a detailed description of the item and they might be able to take action right there on the spot. There are reports of people getting their items delivered to them while they are waiting at baggage claim services so there is a possibility you can get your item back before even leaving the airport.

If they can’t help you then be sure to get clarification on the next step. They may ask you to file a claim online yourself or they may be able to take some initiative for you. Either way, just make sure that you are very clear on what your next step is to retrieve your items before you leave the airport.

Boarding gate for American Airlines
Contact an agent at the gate as soon as possible to improve your odds of recovering your item.

Security

If you suspect that you may have lost your item at or near a TSA security checkpoint chances are that your item may have been placed in the TSA lost and found. TSA has its own lost and found department for different airports. You can find the contact information for the relevant airport you need here.

Related: What Happens if Your Item Is Not Allowed Through TSA Security? Can You Get It Back?

Around the airport

If you think that your item may just be sitting around the terminal somewhere then you likely want to contact the lost and found for the airport. Typically, an airport will have a phone number for its lost and found and a dedicated email address that you can get in touch with.

Below are some of the main airports that American Airlines serves. You should be able to find the contact information for the airport pretty easily.

If you think you may have left the item within a bar or restaurant at the airport then try to contact that individual business. Sometimes contacting a specific business within an airport can be difficult to do so one method is to contact a business nearby and ask one of their employees to walk over to the business you were trying to contact and inquire about your item.

I actually had to do this one time when I left my wallet in the rental car and the Avis rental car desk was not answering the phone. I got into contact with one of the neighboring rental car services and they walked over and got somebody at Avis on the phone for me.

As soon as you get in touch with someone your goal is to quickly get a point of contact via email. This will help you keep everything in writing and allow you to confirm details such as the location that the item should be delivered and how shipping will work out.

Try to insist on getting a (non-generic) email contact as soon as possible and don’t rely on someone to just “get back with you.”

If the entity locates your item they may choose to hand it over to the airport lost and found so that they do not have to deal with it but you can also work out a situation where they mail the item to you directly (that’s what I have done in the past).

The situation can sometimes take a long time to get worked out so my advice to you would be to be as patient as possible while these things are processed. Try to keep in touch on a weekly basis until you receive your item because if you do not hear anything there is a chance that your “claim” could be closed without you getting notified.

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If you’ve already left the airport

If you have already left the airport or you are not able to contact an agent while you are still there then you should file a claim online.

American Airlines uses a third-party service to process their lost and found claims. It is a different service used from other airlines like JetBlue but you will be going through the website: www.chargerback.com.

The online form will ask you to fill out the following information:

  • Category — you will need to choose the type of category your lost item belongs to. Once you select the item type such as an iPhone you will then need to input more description details (this is where you can enter your serial number)
  • Flight information — provide your airline and flight number
  • Date you lost the item
  • Airport that you lost item at
  • Unique description — if there is anything that makes your item stand out this is the place to and put those details
  • If you were item has a tracking device like an AirTag you can list that here
  • Contact information — input all of your basic contact information

Once you finish inputting all of your details you will be issued a tracker number. If your item is discovered then you should be hearing back from American Airlines via email. In the event they track down your item you can then arrange for your item to be shipped to you and you will have to cover the cost.

American Airlines states that they will search for your item for up to 30 days.

American Airlines lost and found form
The American Airlines lost and found form is simple to fill out.

Admirals Club

If you think that you left an item in the Admirals Club then once again my advice would be to first try to persuade an American Airlines agent to check the lounge for you. If you were not able to get someone to check the lounge for you then you likely will need to file the claim online as shown above.

When you are not sure

If you simply have no idea where your lost item might be then my advice would be to contact all of the departments above.

Third-party claim providers

If you are searching for solutions to your lost and found issues you may come across businesses that require you to pay to handle your lost and found claims. I would generally try to avoid these services.

Unless they have an amazing reputation for their services, there is not a need to pay someone to file a lost and found claim for you. Also, some of the lost and found providers for the airlines explicitly ban these type of services. So my advice would be to work directly with the airline, airport, or TSA to retrieve your item.

Final word

If you lose an item when flying American Airlines your first step is to check with agents at the airport to see if they can immediately retrieve your item. If that is not practical then you can file a claim online and American Airlines will search for your item for 30 days. In the event that they locate the item you can pay to have it shipped to you.

Delta Airlines Lost & Found Guide [2023]

Losing an item on a plane or in an airport can be a nightmare. I know this from personal experience.

But thankfully, airlines and airports have pretty sophisticated lost and found services. Many people are reunited with the lost items every day so if you lost something when flying Delta Airlines, don’t lose hope.

Below, I’ll outline all of the steps you can take to recover something lost on Delta Airlines including how to timely file a claim and how to optimize your chances of getting your item recovered.

The immediate step: get to the Delta Airlines gate

If the de-planing has started and you realize that you have a lost item while you are still on a Delta Airlines plane, then just try to be calm and search around your seat while everyone exits.

Eventually, as the passengers exit, a flight attendant will probably approach you to see what’s going on and you can let them know that you have a lost item.

They might be able to help search for you right there but depending on the flight schedule, you might also be ushered out quickly.

If you have already entered the airport from your arrival, and you realize that you have a lost item then you should try to go directly to the Delta arrival gate.

If there is a line for the gate agent, feel free to jump (politely) to the front of the line and just let the agent know that you have something urgent.

Let them know about your lost item and where you were seated and they might be able to get some crew members to help.

If nobody is attending at the desk then you might be able to catch crew members entering the terminal from the jet bridge.

Unless they have somewhere to promptly be, you’ll be surprised how helpful crew members can be in these type of situations.

Past the sterile area

Every airport has a sterile area.

This is the part of the airport that is past security and it means that everyone wandering through those corridors has undergone some type of security screening.

Once you leave the sterile area, you cannot re-enter the sterile area unless you go back through security to make sure that you are in compliance with the TSA rules.

You should always see a sign marking the sterile area as you head towards the baggage claim section of the airport. (it might look like something from the image below.)

If you have already exited the sterile area then you’re not going to be able to get back to the gates unless somehow you were able to get through security which is unlikely as well.

Therefore, your best bet will be to locate a Delta Airlines help desk. Some airports, especially Delta hubs, may have a few Delta help desk’s located in different parts of the airport.

But most likely if you have already exited the sterile area, your best option will be to go to a Delta Airlines desk at baggage claim.

Typically these agents deal with lost luggage but on occasion they can also help you out for your personal lost items.

In one scenario, I recall a passenger even got an agent working the baggage claim desk to radio to agents sweeping the plane.

They were soon reunited with their lost item at baggage claim which is one reason why I always recommend for people to give this method a try.

Related: Delta Air Lines Boarding Policy Guide

airport sterile area

Items left at the TSA Security Checkpoint

If you think that you may have left your items at the TSA security checkpoint then your priority should be to get in contact with the Lost and Found for TSA.

TSA has its own Lost and Found department at all US airports and you can find the contact details for the relevant one here.

This is a separate lost and found department that is distinct from Delta Airlines and from the airport.

If they don’t have any record of your item, then it’s possible that item could’ve been referred to the airport’s lost and found so don’t lose out all hope until you check with them.

Related: What Happens if Your Item Is Not Allowed Through TSA Security? Can You Get It Back?

For items lost in and around the airport facility

What about if you suspect that you left your item sitting around the airport terminal?

For example, maybe you were at ATL and you left your phone sitting on a bench somewhere in the airport? Or perhaps, you suspect that you may have left your last item in a bathroom at SLC or MSP.

If you think that you may have left your item somewhere in the airport then you want to check with the specific lost and found department at that airport.

Head to an information desk and ask them where the airport’s lost and found counter is and that will be the easiest way to find them.

Sometimes the lost and found works in partnership with the airport police so you might also find a desk where you’ll find the police.

Airports also will have a dedicated webpage for their lost and found.

You might be able to submit a claim or simply find an email or phone number that could be helpful. I always prefer to handle these things via email so that you have a paper trail of what went on in your discussion.

If you left something in a Delta Sky Club airport lounge then try to contact Delta ASAP. You could also contact the airport and see if they can transfer you to the lounge.

See if they can get you in touch with someone at the lounge and give them all the details you can such as what time you were in the lounge and where you were seated.

Related: Delta Airlines Baggage Fees Guide

What if you have left the airport?

Okay, now let’s say that you have already left the airport. Maybe you were taking an Uber back to your hotel or you are already back home when you realize that you have a lost item.

If this happens to you then you can immediately call the airport or Delta and see if anything can be done.

But there’s a good chance that you’re going to have to just file your claim online in order to proceed with recovering your lost item.

How to file a Delta lost and found claim online

Like other airlines such as JetBlue, Delta Airlines utilizes nettracer to process lost and found claims.

To file a lost and found claim for Delta Airlines click here.

Make sure that you select you are looking for an item that was NOT lost in your checked baggage to begin your claim.

Filing the claim is a very simple three step process but you don’t want to rush through the steps because detail is as important as ever when resolving these claims.

Also, keep in mind that you really want to file a report within seven days of your item being lost to increase your odds of it getting recovered.

The first section is going to ask you to describe your item. You’ll select an appropriate category and provide details like the item color, case color, brand, model, and item size.

If you have the serial number on hand or some other type of unique ID number you definitely want to input it here.

Finally, there will be a box you can fill in that asks you to describe what makes your item unique.

Once again, think of anything that you can that could possibly allow your lost item to stand out such as any scratches, stickers, screen cracks, etc.

The more detail that you supply, the more your claim will catch the eye of someone working on your file which will likely increase the odds of it being found.

After you input all of your item information, you then need to input some contact details and also details related to your itineraries.

After you file your claim, you should receive a confirmation email about your claim. If for some reason it does not appear then be sure to check your spam box.

If they find an item that matches the description of your lost item, you will receive an email notification or a phone call with further instructions on what to do.

For example, they may ask you further questions to confirm that you are the true owner of the lost item.

In some cases, they might ask you to call your phone which is why it’s recommended to leave your call service activated on your phone for at least one week after you file your claim. (You may want to deactivate any associated data plans.)

If you can verify ownership then they will arrange for shipping the item to you and you will be responsible for paying for the shipping costs which can be paid with a credit card.

The search efforts will take place for approximately 30 days after they receive your lost item report.

If no item is ever recovered that matches your description then you should receive an email stating that they were unsuccessful and that the search is over for your item.

Items that are never recovered may be destroyed, sold, or donated. However, certain items like military IDs or passports get sent to places like the US Department of State.

Final word

Delta Airlines relies on one of the same Lost and Found services that other major airlines rely on. It’s a service that has helped thousands of people find their lost items.

While those services are helpful you can increase your odds of recovering your item by timely filing your report and providing the highest level of detail possible.

In many cases, you might also have to rely on a little bit of luck but if you follow the steps above you should maximize your recovery odds with Delta Airlines.

What Happens if Your Item Is Not Allowed Through TSA Security? Can You Get It Back?

Even experienced travelers sometimes find themselves about to go through airport security with something that is not allowed.

If this ever happens to you, you may be wondering what your options are. Is there any way for you to get reunited with your item or will you have to say goodbye to the item for good?

Below, we will break down a few different options that you have whenever you can’t get an item through airport security.

What happens if your item is not allowed through TSA security?

Typically, unless you proactively hand something over, the way you get caught with an item that is not allowed is when your baggage goes through the x-ray scanner or you walk through the full body scanner or metal detector.

If something is flagged, an agent will then search your bags or your person for the prohibited items and if your item is not allowed through TSA security, a TSA agent may take the following actions:

  • Refer the item and possibly yourself to law enforcement (for some dangerous or illegal items)
  • Allow you to discard or surrender the item
  • Allow you to exit the security line with your item and figure something out

There are some reports of TSA agents forcibly making people give things up and not giving them the third option (to exit security). But unless there is something dangerous or illegal about the item, that should not happen in most cases.

Your options for keeping your item

There are different methods that you can use to keep your item or get reunited with it later on.

These methods include:

  • Handing the item over to TSA and then hunting it down on an auction website
  • Sending the item off in checked baggage
  • Returning home or placing the item in your vehicle or in another person’s vehicle
  • Using a rideshare service to deliver your item
  • Turning in your item into the lost and found and hoping for the best
  • Putting your item in an airport locker
  • Mailing the item back to yourself

All of these come with their own pros and cons and we will dive into the risks of each of these below!

Note: The options available to you will depend on the airport you’re at and the type of item you are trying to save but it’s good to be aware of all of these different routes, even if some of them are a bit more risky (and unconventional) than others.

Hand over your item to TSA and then try to hunt it down

Unlike law-enforcement, TSA does not really have the authority to confiscate an item. Instead, when they take (or receive) an item from a passenger they refer to it as “voluntarily abandoned property.”

In reality, the passenger may not have any other choice than to hand over the items so “voluntarily” is a bit of a misleading term in a lot of cases.

But often the only option you will have when an item cannot get through airport security with you is to simply hand it over to TSA.

Once it is in TSA’s possession, they will take different actions depending on the type of substance.

If it’s a prohibited liquid they will probably just instantly dispose of it. If it’s a weapon or some other type of illegal object, it could be referred to law-enforcement (along with yourself).

But if it is just your every day item that is not illegal, TSA will hand it over to a state surplus and it could eventually end up on one of the auction sites like GovDeals.

This means that in theory you could track down your item by browsing new items that fall under that specific category. I wouldn’t count on this working though and would consider this more of a Hail Mary attempt.

Head back to the check-in counter

Another option you have is to head back over to the baggage check-in counter to send your item via checked baggage.

First, you need to make sure that you have enough time to actually get back over to the counter, wait in line, and then go back through security.

Second, you need to think about baggage fees. If you have status or certain credit cards, you may be able to check a bag for free so this may not be an issue but you’ll definitely want to be aware of the prices.

Most likely you will just be asking them to check your carry-on or personal item bag which means that you will want to remove certain items like laptops or other valuables from your carry-on when you do this. You will then just take those items with you through the security checkpoint.

You might be wondering if you can check your item without having to hand over your carry-on bag. In other words, what happens when you don’t have a bag to put your item in?

Let’s say that you had a bottle of contact solution not allowed in your carry-on, could you simply check that bottle by itself?

This actually introduces a pretty interesting question that we don’t necessarily know the answer to because there is not a lot of information published on this question.

There are examples out there of people checking very small items like a single shoe so it does seem possible.

However, if you’re trying to check a single item that could potentially cause damage like a pocket knife or something that could come apart like a blender then that is probably a very different story.

Some airlines may be willing to work with you, especially if they have materials (tape, etc.) that can make it practical to send your item off.

Others might just look at you like you are crazy, though.

Head back home or to a vehicle

Another option is to head back home if you have enough time or just head back to your vehicle or a friend’s car and place the item in a vehicle.

For example, you can have the person dropping you off at the airport simply hang out in the cell phone parking lot waiting for you to successfully get through security.

If you’re not cutting things close with time this is definitely a good option to think about.

Use a ride share service

If you have enough time you could go to the pick up area of the airport and request a rideshare such as an Uber or Lyft.

Sometimes you may have access to something like Uber Connect which is specifically designed for deliveries but you could possibly even use the standard Uber service for this.

Basically what you would do is request a driver and then tell them that you have a package that needs to be delivered back to your home or to another person’s house.

If you were staying at a nearby hotel, especially a quality hotel with good service, you could arrange for it to be delivered to the hotel and they will likely take care of it until you get back. Or, they could even mail it to you.

When using a rideshare for a delivery, you might be able to convince the driver to just leave the item in a mailbox or on the doorstep but it’s probably better to have someone designated to pick up the package.

It’s possible that an Uber driver may not be comfortable doing this, may not know what to do, if it is allowed, etc.

So be prepared to potentially meet some resistance if you try to go this route. The promise of a good tip can work wonders.

Give it to the lost and found

This option is definitely a bit risky and falls into a gray area but it’s pretty clever.

After you are told you can’t bring your item through security, you could exit the airport security area and head over to the airport lost and found and submit the item as lost.

Obviously, if this item is very valuable to you, you may not want to do this method because you may never see the object again.

And if the item is a dangerous prohibited item like a weapon, you almost certainly will not see that object again.

But if you don’t have any other options then this could give you a chance to get reunited with something like a prohibited battery or certain toiletries.

Basically, after you submit the item to Lost and Found then you would contact the airport and tell them that you lost that specific item and file a claim.

If you’re doing a roundtrip then on your way back through the airport you could simply stop by the lost and found and hopefully pick it up free of charge. Other times, you could get the airport to send you the item but you will probably have to pay for shipping.

To increase your odds of being successful you may want to try the lost and found at an airport lounge if you have access to one because they may be looking out for their guests better than the standard airport lost and found.

Related: TSA Lost and Found Guide: (How to Get Your Items Back)

Put it in an airport locker

Some airports have lockers that you can store items in.

Typically, these are for people who are exiting the airport on a layover but I would guess that you may be able to do overnight storage for multiple days.

Even if you only can store an object for a few hours, that could give you enough time to ask someone to come by and pick up the item. These rates can be expensive sometimes so you may only want to go this route for items that are truly valuable.

Mail the item back to yourself

Some airports have a service you can find called Airport Mailers. This allows you to mail items back to your home for only a small-fish postage fee.

Basically, you just fill out a form with your contact and shipping information, provide credit card details, and then submit the form along with your item in a package to be mailed.

There are a few caveats, though.

One, your item is probably going to have to be pretty small and fit within a 6″ by 9″ pouch. So this isn’t going be the time to mail video game systems, blenders, etc.

Certain items are not allowed in postage and these can include things like weapons, ammunition, batteries, flammable liquids, and explosives.

So typically if you use the service you would be mailing things back like:

  • Knives
  • Scissors
  • Leatherman Tools
  • Lighters
  • Liquids

The price for each item is going to change depending on what type of item it is.

The fees for shipping start around eight dollars but can be much higher for liquids which could be around $20. You will be able to send certain items to international destinations but be prepared for higher fees.

Final word

Finding out that you cannot get your item through airport security can be a frustrating and stressful experience. But, you might have hope of getting reunited with that item if you try out some of the methods above.

Some of these will be worth it based on the value of your item but other times it may just be worth departing from your item and paying for a new replacement.

How Does a Hotel’s Lost and Found Work? [Tips for Getting Your Item]

If you do enough traveling, eventually you probably are going to leave something behind at a hotel.

But what exactly happens to your item whenever you leave it behind at a hotel and what are the odds of you getting it back?

In this article, we will take a deep dive into how lost and found processes work at hotels and give you some insight into the process along with tips to help you get your item back.

What happens when you leave an item in your hotel room?

The usual process for a hotel is for housekeeping to come in to clean the room after you check out, so housekeeping personnel are typically the first people who will discover your lost item.

Every hotel may have a slightly different process for what happens next but generally housekeeping (acting in good faith) will bag or collect the item and then eventually bring the item to the front desk, the housekeeping manager, or some other designated individual.

(Some properties may require housekeeping to notify security who will then retrieve the lost item.)

The item should then be logged in a book or software application and then perhaps tagged and placed in an office bin, safe, or storage closet.

The name or phone number of the guest and the room number along with the reservation dates may be included in the log and hopefully on the tag for easy recognition. Other details like where the object was found and who found it may also be included.

After logging the item, the hotel could choose to reach out to the guest but some hotels have a strict policy that does not allow them to do that.

The reason is that some people stay in hotels on a “confidential” basis.

They could be up to something shady (cheating on a spouse) or could be in need of secrecy for some type of safety reason which is why hotels don’t like to get involved with communicating with guests after they leave.

So for the most part the hotel will wait for you to call and inquire about the lost item.

At that point, they may ask you some questions to verify that you are the owner but if they have the details of your room and stay dates, it should be really easy to verify you are the owner.

Related: 19 Tips for Enjoying Your Hotel Stay & Avoiding Problems

Things you need to know about hotel lost and found

The initial waiting time

If you contact the hotel directly after checking out of your room, that might actually be too early for you to recover your item.

Don’t get me wrong, if you can’t quickly make it back to the hotel, I would recommend calling as soon as you realize you lost the item but your lost object may not be added to the lost and found until after the room is cleaned.

Until that happens, the only way you might be able to get your item is if an employee is willing to go to the room and search for it.

This is when customer service comes into play.

Some hotels may not be that helpful but you’d be surprised how some hotels go above and beyond to help you retrieve your lost item.

Speak to the right person

When you contact the hotel about a lost item you want to make sure that you are talking to the right person at the right time.

Some hotels may designate a single individual as the person who oversees lost and found. For example, this could be a housekeeping manager or even a member of security.

If you call and that individual is not available, the person over the phone may not be able to help you much. In those cases, you may need to call back a few hours later and try again.

Some hotels are not very organized

Some properties may not keep good records which means that they won’t have an accurate log of lost and found items.

So when you call in there could be no record of the lost item!

Even if the hotel has a record of your item, they will still have to locate it.

This could come down to an employee having to go search through a storage closet that could potentially contain hundreds of items.

Unless that employee is particularly motivated to search thoroughly for your item, they could end up giving up rather quickly with only a superficial search.

So if the hotel is not organized and employees are not sufficiently motivated to search, it could be difficult to get your item back even if the hotel is in possession of it.

Related: Is It Safe to Use a Hotel Safe?

Hotels that use apps

More and more hotels are now using software applications like ileftmystuff, Chargerback, or Quore to help manage their lost and found.

These make it easy for guests to submit a lost item and for the hotel to manage and track these down.

Some of them even allow the shipping process to be set up making it ultra convenient to get reunited with your lost item.

If a hotel has invested in lost and found software like this, chances are they will take your lost and found claim seriously.

Your item may be thrown away

Some hotels may send certain items directly to the trash or only hold onto them for very little time before they dispose of them.

These would be items that present health risks like pillows, blankets, and clothing. Hotels don’t want to risk bringing in bedbugs or potentially spreading viruses that could have been living in these.

Other times, if an article is particularly dirty or gross (certain adult toys) a hotel will not hesitate to throw it away. Drugs including weed presumably are thrown away and alcohol is poured out (or split among hotel staff).

It’s also possible that if you brought a pillow it could have been mistaken for one that the hotel owns and they could have put it in the laundry cycle.

The holding time

Just how long a hotel will store your item will depend on a lot of factors.

First, some hotels just have very short holding policies of only a couple of weeks to 30 days. They do this so that they don’t have to spend a lot of time keeping up with lost items from many months ago.

These properties won’t always tell you that they have short holding times.

The worst offenders may even act like they are searching for your item when they know they have already disposed of it!

The typical length of time that a hotel will hold onto your item is three to six months. Generally, the more valuable the item the longer the hotel will store it.

For example, something random like a pair of sunglasses may be held for three months while a phone may be held onto for six months. On occasion, a hotel might even hold onto something even longer especially if they think it is very valuable such as an engagement ring.

Hotels do love to keep around chargers though because they can loan these out to guests (who don’t always return them).

Sometimes there are state laws that require a hotel to hold onto items for a certain amount of time so you can always look into those if you think a hotel is not complying.

Related: What Can You Take From A Hotel Room?

Unclaimed items

If your item is never claimed then hotels have a couple of different ways they will handle it.

Sometimes they will give it to the person who discovered the object or to any employee interested in taking it home. But other times they could simply donate the item to a local charity or place it in some type of auction.

If the item contains confidential information such as a phone then they may have a policy for disposing that type of item to prevent any kind of liability with leaked data.

And for anything nobody wants, they will just throw it away….

Getting the hotel to ship you the lost item

If your home is far away from the hotel then your best bet will probably be to have the item shipped to you.

For the most part, expect to have to pay for the shipping of the item. You can do that by sending a prepaid label (sometimes via email) or by just allowing the hotel to charge the card that they had on file. Also, as mentioned some of those software applications allow you to pay for the shipping.

Every now and again, you may encounter a hotel that will ship the item to you for free, especially if the shipping cost is pretty low. Consider yourself #blessed if that happens.

What if your lost item is located in a room that is now occupied?

If your object is not found in the lost and found, there’s a chance that it could still be in the room that you stayed in even after new guests have moved in.

This actually happened to us one time when Brad could not find his passport.

It was underneath a room service binder in the hotel room and because housekeeping does not move those binders, they did not discover it underneath there when they cleaned our room.

After searching extensively, we had a strong suspicion that it was still in that room so we asked the hotel to check but the current occupants were not in their room to consent.

That would not have been a problem except we had an international flight to catch in the morning and this was already in the evening time. So we only had hours to spare.

It took some convincing but we were finally able to get someone from the hotel to enter the room and search for the passport. Within seconds they found it.

So if you believe that your lost item is in a hotel room occupied by someone else, you might be able to convince the hotel to give it a search but this may only happen in pretty dire circumstances (like the one we were in).

Final word

When you have a lost item at a hotel the process is not always so straightforward. You want to make sure that you are talking to the right person and that you don’t wait too long to contact the hotel. Finally, be prepared to pay for shipping to get your item back.

Southwest Airlines Lost & Found Guide [2022]

Losing something while flying or traveling through the airport can feel overwhelming because you may not even know where to begin your search.

But typically, you can break down your search into a few different areas to ensure that you leave no stone unturned.

If you happen to lose something on Southwest Airlines, this article will guide you on how to best utilize the Southwest lost and found. I’ll show you different departments to contact and how to file your claim online (if needed).

The immediate step: get to the Southwest Airlines gate

If you ever lose something on the aircraft try to remain in your seat or in your row as long as possible and search for your item in the nearby vicinity.

You can let all of the other passengers exit the aircraft to help buy yourself some time to look, as you probably have around 5 to 10 minutes to conduct your search.

A flight attendant will likely notice you searching for something and they should come to your aid or at least inquire about your lost item.

Southwest Airlines is known for having tremendous customer service so it would not surprise me for their staff to go above and beyond to help you out.

But eventually, you will have to leave the plane and when you leave try to ask the flight attendants to resume the search for you during the cleaning process.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Chances are that if you are reading this article you have already left the plane.

If you have just exited the plane and are still in the terminal, try to get back to the gate area as quickly as possible.

You want to head to the specific gate that you arrived at if you can remember which gate it is (if you don’t remember you can simply check your boarding pass).

At this gate, you will want to talk with an airline agent and let them know that you have a valuable item that was left in the plane.

In some instances, they will send someone in to take a look.

Other times, you might even spot crew from your flight exiting the gate area and you can inquire with them to see if something can be done.

This could be talking to flight attendants and even pilots. You’d be surprised how willing people are to help whenever they have the time to offer it.

Past the sterile area

Airports have what is known as a “sterile area.” This is usually a doorway or corridor and once you pass it you are not allowed to go back into the terminal.

If you have already passed the sterile area then you won’t be able to make your way back to the gate.

Instead, you could take a look to see if you can find an information desk for Southwest but that might even be difficult once you are already passed the sterile area.

In that situation, it may be best to head to the baggage claim area where you can probably find a Southwest information desk. The agents there typically deal with lost luggage claims but they can still help you out if you have a lost item.

I wouldn’t count on it but in some cases they might even radio in for someone to check the plane while you are waiting at baggage claim. I’ve seen some stories of people getting reunited with their item at baggage claim so it’s definitely a possibility.

If you are at the baggage claim area and not able to retrieve your item an agent might direct you to file your claim online which I will go into detail for below.

But first, consider how to handle lost items that are not in the possession of the airline.

Related: Airlines & Airports Lost & Found Tips (Ultimate Guide)

Items left at the TSA Security Checkpoint

If you think that you may have left your items at the TSA security checkpoint then your priority should be to get in contact with the Lost and Found for TSA.

TSA has its own Lost and Found department at all US airports and you can find the contact details for the relevant one here.

This is a separate lost and found department that is distinct from Southwest and from the airport.

If they don’t have any record of your item, then it’s possible that item could’ve been referred to the airport’s lost and found so don’t lose out all hope until you check with them.

For items lost in and around the airport facility

If you think you may have misplaced your item somewhere within or around the airport facility then it is the airport lost and found that you want to contact.

This would be the type of situation where you left something sitting in a chair at a terminal, in a bathroom, etc.

In those cases, Southwest Airlines really has nothing to do with your claim.

To find the airport lost and found, you can always head to an airport information desk and they should be able to guide you.

Also, sometimes the airport lost and found is linked or a part of the airport police department so you can also look for them for help.

You should also be able to find their information quite easily online.

If you left something at a specific restaurant, shop, or airport lounge within the airport, try to contact that specific location first.

Sometimes you might be able to find their phone number in the airport’s website but other times it may be located in a Google My Business profile (simply found with a normal Google search) as shown below.

For example, if you left something at Chelsea’s Kitchen in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, you could find the contact details for that individual restaurant location with a simple Google search.

Tip: If they don’t answer look up the phone number to a next-door business and try to get a hold of them to see if they can help.

If the restaurant or shop tells you that there is no sign of your item, it’s possible that it could’ve already been handed over to the airport lost and found so you also want to check with them.

Note: If you think that you may have left your item in a rental car or even on the shuttle to the rental car center then sometimes you will need to contact that specific department. You should be able to find their contact details on the airport’s website.

What if you have left the airport?

If you have already left the airport then you have a couple of choices.

You could return to the airport and try to contact the lost and found centers available to you that don’t require you to venture through security.

But for most people, it’s probably going to be more practical to simply file a claim online.

If you believe that you lost your item at the airport or in the TSA area then you will want to look at the online process for filing a claim for those specific departments.

Instructions for filing a claim online with TSA are found above but each airport will have its own way of handling claims.

However, if you think Southwest was in possession of the item then read below on how to file a claim.

How to file a Southwest lost and found claim online

Like other airlines such as JetBlue, Southwest Airlines utilizes nettracer to process lost and found claims.

To file a lost and found claim for Southwest Airlines click here.

Your top priority should be to file your online claim as soon as possible. Waiting even a week to file your claim can decrease the odds that your item will be successfully recovered.

The lost and found form is really easy to fill out but you don’t want to rush through the process because providing accurate and thorough details will increase your chances of being reunited with your item.

First, you will need to select an item category and subcategory.

Next, you need to input some basic information like the color, case color, item brand, item model, item size, and item serial number.

You’ll then input the date that you lost the item and select a unique identifier and unique ID number.

Then there is the final question which ask you what makes your item unique.

This is your opportunity to distinguish your item from the hundreds of other items they get lost all the time while simultaneously proving your ownership.

Try to include any kind of distinguishing features like a specific type of scratch or sticker that may be found on your lost items.

Anything that you think could help your item stick out from others should be included.

Once you file your claim, you will receive email verification but you might need to check your spam or junk folder just in case the email ended up there.

After you receive your email, it is just a waiting game.

The search will last up to 30 days for your item and if they recover an item that matches your lost item, you should receive a confirmation email.

They will then ask you to verify your ownership of the item and if you can verify it, you should receive instructions on how to arrange shipping which you will have to pay for.

If your item was never recovered you should receive an email after 30 days that they were unsuccessful.

Be aware that if you happen to lose a passport, it will be sent to the U.S. Department of State, Passport Services, Consular Lost/Stolen Passport Section.

Military IDs will be sent to the Department of the Navy, NAS-JRB ID Office.

Final Word

As you can see, there are a lot of different areas to check out if you happen to lose an item when flying.

The key is to think hard about where you lost your item and then contact the appropriate department.

If you are simply unsure about where you may have misplaced the item then don’t leave any stone unturned and contact every department that you can.

Frontier Airlines Lost & Found Guide [2022]

Losing an item while flying is one of the most frustrating things that can happen to a traveler. But lost and found has come a long way and if you were flying on Frontier Airlines, you still have hope of recovering your item.

Check out the steps below which will outline everything you need to know about handling a lost and found claim. I’ll show you whom to contact (and when) and also provide you with directions on filing a claim online in the event you need to.

The immediate step: get to the Frontier Airlines gate

If you ever lose something on a Frontier Airlines plane, try to remain on the aircraft as long as you can to look for your item.

Eventually, the plane will have to be cleaned and you will be asked to leave. But at that moment you can let the staff know what you are looking for and they might be able to help (although you will still likely be escorted off the plane).

If you have already exited the plane and realize you lost an item then you want to try to get back to the gate area (where are you arrived at the airport) as quickly as possible.

Once you arrive at the gate area your goal is to contact someone who can send someone back on the plane to look for your item.

(For security purposes, you will likely have to sit tight at the gate.)

If you speak with an agent working a desk at the gate they should be able to help you but you could also get a hold of any flight attendant or even a pilot from your flight if you see them exiting.

Unless they are in a major hurry, they will be willing and able to provide you with some assistance.

Provide this individual with a description of your item and your seat number and where you think the item may have fallen (behind or in front of the seat).

If the item has special meaning to you be sure to convey that because it could motivate the right person to do everything in their power to recover the item.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Photo by Tomás Del Coro via Flickr.

Past the sterile area

If you have already exited the “sterile area,” meaning that you cannot access the gate area without going back through security, then you have a couple of options.

First, you can look for a Frontier Airlines information desk located anywhere in the airport.

However, chances are you’ll be close to baggage claim which means that your best bet might be to head to the Frontier Airlines baggage services counter (assuming there is one).

Baggage services usually deals with lost luggage but even if you have lost something besides luggage they may still be able to help you.

I’ve seen reports of agents at the counters being able to track down items and even get them delivered to the baggage claim area.

If they can’t assist you, they may refer you to the online form for filing a claim (which I will explain below).

You could also considering contacting the airline at the airport where your prior plane is headed.

You can use an app like FlightAware to see where your aircraft is heading and then try to get ahead of it by contacting someone there and asking if they can search the plane whatever it lands.

This approach may only work well with highly valuable items but it’s worth a shot.

Related: Airlines & Airports Lost & Found Tips (Ultimate Guide)

Items left at the TSA Security Checkpoint

If you think that you may have left your item at a TSA security checkpoint then the lost and found for Frontier Airlines probably will not be able to help you.

TSA has its own Lost and Found department at all US airports and you can find the contact details for the relevant one here.

Sometimes, TSA might refer your item to the main airport lost and found and in that case you want to go a different route which I talk about in the next section.

For items lost in and about the airport facility

If you suspect that you may have left your item in an airport facility then you want to check with the lost and found for the airport.

This would be the type of situation where you left something sitting in a chair at a terminal, in a bathroom, etc.

To find the airport desk, you can usually ask someone at an information desk which are typically very easy to find in the airport.

You can also look for the airport police because a lot of times they administer the lost and found.

If you left something at a specific restaurant, shop, or airport lounge, try to contact that specific location first.

Sometimes you might be able to find their phone number in the airport’s website but other times it may be located in a Google My Business profile (simply found with a normal Google search) as shown below.

Tip: If they don’t answer look up the phone number to a next-door business and try to get a hold of them to see if they can help.

If the item was just left there, there is a chance it could still be sitting exactly where you left it and someone could recover it for you.

Or, if the item was recently lost it may just be sitting behind a desk somewhere.

However, a lot of shops will eventually hand over the item to the lost and found at the airport.

If you end up getting in contact with someone who finds your item, plead with them to give you a non-generic email address.

It’s really easy for your item to get lost (again) in the recovery process and so it is vitally important to have a human point of contact versus a generic email for lost and found.

What if you have left the airport?

If you have already exited the airport and are on your way home or have already arrived home then you will probably have to process your lost and found claim online.

If you have your phone, you can file your claim online from your mobile device.

You can also try to contact the airline on social media. There is a good chance they will refer you to the online filing form but you never know what kind of help you might be able to get.

Shuttle buses & rental cars

If you think you lost something on a shuttle bus, a lot of airports will have specific phone numbers for their shuttle bus department or rental cars.

They will probably be working in tandem with airport lost and found so there is a chance they might refer your item to them.

How to file a claim online

Like other airlines such as JetBlue, Frontier Airlines utilizes nettracer to process lost and found claims.

To initiate a lost and found claim for Frontier Airlines click here.

It’s really important that you file your online claim as soon as possible. Claims that are filed after seven days have a decreased chance of recovery.

The online form is very easy to fill out but in order to increase your odds of recovering your item you don’t want to rush through it.

First, you will need to select a item category and subcategory.

Next, you need to input some basic information like the color, case color, item brand, item model, item size, and item serial number.

You’ll then input the date that you lost the item and select a unique identifier and unique ID number.

Then there is the final question which ask you what makes your item unique.

This is an extremely important answer because this is how you can distinguish your item while also proving your ownership.

For example, perhaps your MacBook has a scratch in the corner or perhaps your iPhone has a crack in the middle of the screen.

Those are super important details that will help distinguish your item.

After you have filed your claim you should eventually receive some sort of email verification.

If whatever reason you don’t see it, check your spam or junk folder because these emails often can land there.

After that, you just have to sit back and wait and hope that you receive an email letting you know that they found your item. They should search for it for about 30 days before giving up.

If your item is found and you receive a confirmation email they will send you instructions explaining how you can confirm your ownership.

The process for verifying your item can vary but it could consist of sending a phone call or text message to the device in question or something along those lines.

If you want your item back, you will have to pay for shipping which should be able to be processed online. The pricing will depend on the type of shipping and where you are getting the item shipped to.

Frontier Airlines lost and found FAQ

How long will Frontier Airlines search for lost and found items?

Frontier Airlines will search for approximately 30 days after they receive your report.

What if I lost my passport?

Passports and other official documents like military IDs are not destroyed. Instead, passports are sent to the U.S. Department of State.

Final word

While losing something when traveling can be very stressful, you still have help with Frontier. If you follow all of the advice above, you should be maximizing your chances of recovering your item.

Cover Photo by Tomás Del Coro via Flickr.

United Airlines Lost and Found Guide (What to Expect) [2021]

Losing or misplacing things is never a pleasant experience but doing so while traveling can be very stressful. In most cases, however, if the right action is taken immediately the chances of recovering your lost item increase dramatically.

If you happened to have misplaced, lost, or left behind something on United Airlines then our guide is your best chance of being united with your belongings. Read on for a detailed and comprehensive step-by-step guide.

United Airlines lost and found

Every airline has a different way it helps its passengers find lost items. While the carrier handles the lost items requests by itself, it outsources the actual search process to a specialist by the name of Chargerback… but more on that later.

Before you start filling out a bunch forms you need to ask yourself where you might have left the item you are missing because that will dictate who you need to contact.

For the first few sections below, we will assume you left your item on a United flight and provide you with some steps for that scenario.

But if you think you may have left the item somewhere in the airport or in the TSA area, we will also give you some specific tips for that situation.

If you have already left the plane

In the event that you have left the plane, the most prudent thing to do is to get back to the gate you came through while disembarking from the flight. Your goal is to immediately get hold of a United Airlines crew or staff member (even if it’s a pilot). 

Inform the staff what your item(s) looks like, give them your seat number and they might be able to send someone with access to the aircraft and recover it.

You might not get back the item immediately because sometimes there are procedural protocols that need to be followed but the quick action will at least ensure that the item is secured. 

Keep in mind delays could mean giving unscrupulous people the opportunity to take your lost belongings. It is not necessary to assume that it is the crew or the cleaning staff that would do this, it could just as easily be another passenger on the same flight or the next. But you’ll just want to act quickly.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Left something on the plane? Try to get someone at the gate to get back in there ASAP.

If you are still at the airport

In the event that you have left the sterile gate area but you still have not left the airport premises, your next plan of action should be to get hold of the United Airline staff at their counter.

United counters may be found throughout the airport in some locations — just look for information desks to help you locate one. If you can’t find one, you can probably head to the United baggage services counter (but more on that below).

IMPORTANT NOTE: While you can approach the general staff at the airport to help you locate your missing item, in most cases this person will just go through a long-winded process and in the end put you through to United Airlines staff. All you would have done is end up wasting precious time.

Because of covid, aircraft these days are thoroughly cleaned by large crews. The longer it takes for someone to be alerted to look for your item, the more likely it is that a greater number of people have been through your seat.

My personal experience has been that, for the most part, cleaning crew are honest. If they find a lost item they will immediately report it and the item ends up in Lost and Found. But a simple fact of life is that not everyone has a good sense of ethics.

This is why I can’t emphasize enough the importance of locating a United counter quickly.

United Airline Baggage Services Counter

The baggage service counter typically deals with lost luggage but they can also help you with other lost items.

At the United counter, the most important thing is to give as much information as you can about the lost item. This will not only improve the chances that your item is found quickly but also reduce the time it will take for it to be returned to you.

There is a chance that they could send someone to find your item and even have it delivered to you at baggage claim but in all probability, you will be asked to fill out this form.

Put in as many travel details as possible including mentioning your name, flight number, boarding airport, final destination (if it is not the airport you are at currently), and most importantly, mention the seat number.

As for the information on the item itself, mention the make, model, color, serial number (if available on-hand) and describe the item as clearly as possible with any distinguishing features, such as a scratch on the top right corner of the screen, etc. 

Note: If the staff has not been able to find your item while you are at the airport, make sure you are very clear on the next steps before you leave the airport. Ask the staff about the next procedural steps, local contact details (phone, email, etc), when you should follow up, policies on lost and found, etc.

If for any reason you don’t have access to email you can use the following address to inform United about your lost item through snail mail at this address:

United Airlines

Baggage Resolution Service Center

900 Grand Plaza Drive

Houston, TX 77067

What is Chargerback?

Chargerback is a lost and found service provider that many of the nation’s leading airlines, including United, use to manage their lost and found operations. Once you submit your details to United some of the follow-up and contact will be with Chargerback. For more information on how they work, you can visit their site here.

Items left at the TSA Security Checkpoint

In case you believe that you have lost your item at any of the gates, at the ticketing counter, or at any of the TSA security checkpoints, then United Airlines might not be able to help you as these areas come under the jurisdiction of the TSA (Transport and Security Administration).

TSA has its own Lost and Found Department located at all the airports and you can find the relevant contact details for each of them here.

Related: TSA Lost and Found Guide: (How to Get Your Items Back) 

Items lost in and around the airport facility

If you believe you might have misplaced your item at any other location at the airport other than those coming under the jurisdiction of the TSA as mentioned above, then your lost item will eventually find its way to the Lost and Found Department of the airport in question. 

Each airport usually has its own independent lost and found department. The airport staff will be able to assist you in finding the counter so that you can register your complaint (sometimes this will be located by a desk for the airport’s police department). The procedure for recovering your item is more or less the same as listed above.

Again, give as much information as possible to help them locate your item quickly. Every airport’s lost and found department has its own dedicated contact number which you should note for future follow-ups. Again, try to get a non-generic email address as the response is usually faster when you talk to a specific person in charge.

In many cases, items lost anywhere at the airport have a chance to end up at the airport’s lost and found department, so always do check with them even if you are following up with United or TSA.

In case you think that you might have left your item at a specific business at the airport like a restaurant or a rent a car service, then I would advise that you get in touch with them as soon as possible.

What if you left the airport?

It happens to all of us, we don’t realize we are missing something until we have a need for it. In case this has happened to you and you realize you have misplaced an item after leaving the airport premises you just simply need to fill out this form and start the procedure.

Traveling first or business class?

There are great benefits to traveling in first or business class and one of them is the extra attention you get from the airlines. Most airlines, including United, will make an extra effort to help you if you are using any of their premium services or are a member of their frequent flyer club. So mention this whenever you communicate with them.

Third-party services

There are also independent third-party Lost and Found services out there like Crowdfind. I don’t have personal experience with them but just remember it’s possible to handle your lost and found claim without paying anybody.

How long will United Airlines keep looking for your item?

United will look for your item for a period of 30 days from the filing of the report. After that, they will send you an email informing you that the search was unsuccessful.

Final word

While there is no guarantee that you will find your lost item, your chances increase if you move fast and take the right steps as mentioned in our guide above. 

The key is speed and giving as much information as possible so that the process becomes easier for the relevant authorities. I wish you the best of luck in recovering your lost items.

Airlines & Airports Lost & Found Tips (Ultimate Guide)

If you have lost something when flying or when making your way through an airport, you might be able to still recover your item. In fact, there’s a very particular set of steps you can follow to make sure that all of your bases are covered.

In this ultimate guide, we will walk you through how to handle dealing with lost and found departments with various airlines and airports. You’ll see that airlines and airports have a different policies and that there are multiple ways to hunt down your item.

Item left on the aircraft

If you are fresh off the plane and realize that you left something on the plane, your best course of action is to immediately contact an airline agent.

You should head over to the gate where your plane landed and see if you can speak with an agent at one of the desks. If there is a line, feel free to cut the line at the very front and just tell the agent that you “have something urgent you need to ask them about.”

If you see crew members such as flight attendants or even pilots from your flight exiting the jet bridge area you can try to wave them down and ask if they can do anything to find your item.

You might feel like you are wasting their time but many flight attendants and pilots are more than willing to help out a passenger in such a situation (if they have time).

In some instances, an airline agent will be able to go back into the plane and look for your belonging.

An aircraft will spend about 90 minutes to 2 hours on the ground between flights, depending on the airline and the size of the aircraft.

It will probably take around 15 minutes for passengers to exit the aircraft and another 15 minutes for the plane to be cleaned and that is most likely your best window for getting someone to access the plane.

That’s because you could have multiple crew members looking for your item during clean-up.

If you wait until the plane starts boarding for the next flight, flight attendants will be more restricted in what they can do because they will not want to interfere with the boarding process. So time is definitely of the essence.

Beyond the sterile area

Airports in the US have areas known as “sterile areas” which are where all of the gates are and also where all of the airside shops and restaurants are located.

As you make your way closer to your exit or baggage claim area you will usually see a TSA agent sitting by the border for the sterile areas and there will usually be a sign letting you know there is no re-entry.

If you have made it past the sterile area you will typically not be allowed to re-enter unless you go through a TSA security checkpoint.

So if you have already made your way past airport security, you’re not gonna be able to head back into the plane or contact an agent at a gate.

But you should still be able to find an agent for your corresponding airline (or for a partner airline).

You can look for special airline help desks which could be located throughout the airport. If you were not able to find one look for the airport’s general information desk and then ask if they can point you in the right direction.

You could also head to the baggage claim area where you often find a small airline help desk area. Again, if you don’t see your airline you might be able to contact a partner airline.

The reason you want to speak with an agent at the airport is that they might be able to quickly contact someone who can check the plane for your lost item. If they are successful, they can probably have an agent come and deliver the item to you at the baggage claim area.

If you are unsuccessful or if nobody is able to check the plane for you, then then you should request or simply look up where that plane is headed next.

If your location is not the final destination for the plane, it’s possible that you could get in touch with someone at the airport it is headed to and they may be willing to search for your item when the plane lands.

Your success with this method really depends on the graciousness of the person you’re speaking with and it is not always guaranteed they will be willing to go above and beyond for you.

Filing online

If none of the above methods work you most likely you will need to file a claim online.

It’s likely that you will file a claim through nettracer.aero or chargerback.com, since those are two commonly used websites for lost and found processing. However, some airlines may have an alternative process.

The way the online claim form usually works is that you submit a claim and then if anything is found you should be notified within 30 days. If you don’t receive any notification within 30 days chances are your item will not be recovered.

To maximize the odds of recovering your lost item, you need to provide as much detail as you possibly can in the claim form.

The detail you input will hopefully go beyond things like the color or model of your phone.

It really helps if you can get super specific with things like a:

  • scratch in the left corner of the screen
  • serial number
  • a special sticker, etc.

Also, be prepared to answer specific questions about your item in the event they need you to verify your ownership of it.

You can see a more detailed breakout of individual airlines’ lost and found policies below:

Lost at the TSA security checkpoint

TSA estimates approximately 100,000 items are left behind each month!

Since a lot of people leave items behind at the security checkpoint, it’s always recommended for you to store as many items as you can into your carry-on and personal item when going through the full body scanners.

If you believe that you lost an item at or near the security checkpoint, there’s a good chance that it has ended up in the TSA lost and found.

You can find TSA lost and found phone numbers to contact online here. (Some of the airports may simply have an online form for you to fill out.)

TSA only receives data on weekdays and not weekends or federal holidays. Also, it could take up to five business days to receive a response from TSA.

If you fail to claim an item within 30 days it will likely be donated or sent to some designated collection facility. At that point, your item is considered non-returnable.

Note: At some airports like SFO, TSA contracts with private companies for security. In those cases, your lost and found claim may be handled by the private contractor.

Lost in or around the airport

If there is a chance that your item could have just been left in the airport such as somewhere in the seating area, terminal, bathroom, or in outdoor areas such as the arrival area, parking lot, garage, etc., then you want to check with the lost and found department at that airport.

You could speak with someone at an information desk or you might actually find a dedicated desk for lost and found items within the airport.

These airport lost and found departments are sometimes managed by the airport police department so you could also head their direction if you can’t find an appropriate desk to approach.

If you have already left the airport then simply head to the airport’s website and you should be able to find information for that specific airport’s lost and found department.

In some cases there may be an email address you can contact and in other cases there may be an online form or perhaps even a phone number that you can call.

Be aware that not all items will be stored in lost and found and some may be disposed of instantly. For example, if you left a travel pillow sitting on the seat in a terminal, that is something that may be thrown away when found.

Other airports may only retain essential items like “government-issued IDs, passports, baggage, jewelry, medication, medical devices, high-end electronics, and legal documents.”

Each airport will have its own policy but they may only hold onto your items for a limited period of time such as 10 days while other airports may be more generous and hold onto it for 90 days. After that, your item may be disposed of or it could be donated or even sent to the local police department.

Note: Sometimes items get passed around between the airlines, TSA, and airport personnel. So if you strike out with anyone of those groups you should always check with the other two to see if something pops up.

Lost in an airport lounge

If you left an item in an airport lounge, there are a few ways you can go about it.

First, I would try to contact the lounge or a representative at the airport and ask them to contact the lounge on your behalf about the lost item.

Other lounges like the American Express Centurion Lounge may turn over your item to the airport’s lost and found so you may just need to check with the airport.

Some airlines like American Airlines may ask you to simply fill out the online form.

You could also turn to social media….

Consider joining a Facebook group for that airline or for a relevant demographic such as Platinum Card members.

Make a post describing your lost item and the lounge you lost it in and there may be members of the group headed to that lounge and willing to recover the item for you.

SFO Centurion Lounge

Lost in a restaurant or shop

If you left your item in a restaurant or shop located within the airport try to contact that specific restaurant or shop.

Sometimes you might be able to find their phone number in the airport’s website but other times it may be located in a Google My Business profile (simply found with a normal Google search) as shown below.

If you can’t find the phone number for the restaurant or shop look for the phone number for a nearby restaurant or shop within the airport.

For example, one time I needed to get a hold of an Avis office located within the airport but nobody would answer the phone. So I simply called up a rental car office located nearby and a representative walked over to the Avis office and got their attention.

The restaurant or shop will likely handover your item to the airport’s lost and found but at least by calling them you can verify whether or not they found it.

Related: Uber Lost and Found Guide (How it Works and Fees)

Shuttle buses & rental cars

If you think you lost something on the shuttle bus, a lot of airports will have specific phone numbers for their shuttle bus department or rental cars. For example, at SFO they direct you to contact the SFO Shuttle Bus Company at (415)915-9760.

I would also suggest contacting the rental car company directly if you are dealing with a lost item in a rental car.

Fees and shipping

The airlines, airports, and TSA should not charge you anything to file a lost and found claim.

However, if your item is recovered it is highly likely that you will be responsible for paying for the shipping costs to get it back to you via something like FedEx.

Typically, this will be worked out once you get contacted about your item and you can arrange for your package to be expedited if needed. You can also often choose to just pick it up from the airport.

Using third parties

Sometimes an airline or airport will use some type of third-party to process their claims. Other times, they may just use a particular type of software to manage their lost and found claims. For example, LAX uses Crowdfind.

But there are some third parties (not directly affiliated with airlines or airports) that report to increase your odds of reuniting with your item.

I’ve personally never used a third-party service for retrieving a lost and found items so they may be legitimate but it also could be easy to essentially get scammed out of your money. Some airports make it clear that these third-party services will not allow for expedited recovery. So just be careful when trying out third parties.

Passports

If you lose a passport at the airport, most likely will be sent over to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection within five days. Larger airports often have a phone number for U.S. Customs and Border Protection at their location, so be sure to look into that.

You can report a lost passport here but note: “Once you have reported your passport lost or stolen, it is invalidated by the State Department. It cannot be used if it is found.”

Final word

Losing an item when flying or at the airport can definitely be a very stressful experience. But there are several different routes you can choose when trying to locate your lost item.

The key is try to act swiftly and get help from an airline agent as quickly as you can.

If you were not initially successful with that method then be sure to exhaust all other potential solutions which could involve contacting the lost and found for airports and TSA. And don’t forget to give social media a try!

Hawaiian Airlines Lost and Found Guide (What to Expect) [2021]

Misplacing an item while traveling can not only be stressful, it may upset your travel plans as well. But many of the stories of people losing things while traveling end up on a happy note especially if you take quick action.

If you have recently lost something while traveling on Hawaiian Airlines, just follow all the important steps I have listed below as that might drastically increase your chances of being united with your lost item.

Hawaiian Airlines lost and found

If you lose an item while flying Hawaiian Airlines, follow all of the steps outlined below to help increase your odds of recovering your lost item.

If you just exited the plane

If you just exited the plane and have entered the airport premises then due to strict security policies, you will not be allowed to go back into the aircraft to look for your lost item(s).

The immediate course of action in this scenario is to get hold of a Hawaiian Airline staff member near the gate or a crew member that is exiting from the aircraft/jet bridge. 

Most of the time these people can quickly go and fetch your belonging for you. You just need to give them your seat number and they will search the area and try and recover the item.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

If you still have not left the airport premises

If you have lost an item on a Hawaiian Airlines flight and have exited the plane but have not exited the airport premises yet, then your first point of contact should be Hawaiian Airlines and not the general airport staff.

The simple reason for this is that they will also initiate a process that will eventually end up contacting the relevant airline staff and all this does is waste precious time. Time in such cases is of the essence because once the passengers have left the aircraft, it is thoroughly freshened up for the next flight.

Through experience, I can tell you that most cleaning crews are honest and very helpful. If they find a lost item left behind by a passenger they follow the proper protocol to have it reported.

Having said that, there have been cases where the cleaning crew have been known to pocket the item and sell it for a quick profit.

We don’t live in a perfect world. If the crew also missed your item and it is later discovered by the next passenger who takes up your old seat then you are completely left at the mercy of his/her personal code of ethics.

If you are unable to make your way back to your gate without going through TSA airport security, then you need to find the nearest Hawaiian Airlines baggage services counter.

There are many information desks all over the airport that can help you find an airline representative near you. This person will have the training to guide you to the right place to make an official report.

Hawaiian Airlines Baggage Services Counter

When you are filing your report for the missing item, make sure to give as much detail as possible because this will drastically improve the chances of the staff finding your lost belongings.

For your travel details, mention your name, flight number, boarding airport, final destination (if it is not the airport you are at currently), and most importantly, mention the seat number.

For the item, mention make, model, color, serial number (if available on-hand) and describe the item as clearly as possible with any distinguishing features, such as a scratch on the top right corner of the screen. All these things expedite search and recovery and there are even reports of people being reunited with their lost items while they wait at baggage claim services.

Once you do this, you will have to follow up on your claim with the airlines’ central baggage services. You can reach them through the following:

Hawaiian Airlines Central Baggage Services Office

Phone: 866-389-6654

Fax: 808-835-3466

Mail: P.O. Box 30008, Honolulu, HI 96820

Hours of Operation: 8AM – 4:30PM HST, seven days a week, including holidays

It might also be a smart idea to ask the local staff at the airport you are at for a local contact point and their email.

Hawaiian Airlines Partner Baggage Services

Please note that at some airports, Hawaiian Airlines have partnered up with other airlines to help them with baggage service. In this case, just visit the partner airline’s baggage service and follow their specific protocols to file a report.

You’ll have to look for the following partner baggage service counters at the following airports:

North America Airports:

  • Las Vegas (LAS) — Swissport
  • New York (JFK) — JetBlue

International Airports:

  • Auckland, (AKL) — Menzies
  • Brisbane(BNE) — Qantas
  • Osaka – Kansai(KIX) — ANA
  • Papeete (PPT) — Air Tahiti
  • Sapporo – Chitose (CTS) — ANA
  • Seoul – Incheon (ICN) — Swissport
  • Sydney (SYD) — Qantas
  • Tokyo – Haneda (HND) — Swissport
  • Tokyo – Narita (NRT) — Swissport

Pro Tip: If the staff has not been able to find your item there and then, make sure you are very clear on the next steps before you leave the airport. Ask the staff of the next procedural steps, local contact details (phone and email), when you should follow up, policies on lost and found, etc.

Items left at the Ticket Counter, Gate Area or TSA Security Checkpoint

If you think that you have lost your item at the ticket counter, at any of the gates, or at a TSA Security Checkpoint, the airlines will not be able to help you much as these areas come under the jurisdiction of TSA (Transportation Security Administration).

TSA has its own Lost and Found Department located at all the airports and you can find the relevant contact details for each of them here.

Related: TSA Lost and Found Guide: (How to Get Your Items Back) 

Around the airport

If you have misplaced your belongings at any place inside the airport other than the ticket counter, gate areas, or TSA Security Checkpoints, then the item will probably find its way to the concerned airport’s Lost and Found department. And yes, they are different than the airline’s and TSA’s Lost and Found Departments.

Every airport has a dedicated counter for the Lost and Found department which you should easily find by simply asking around. They will have a similar procedure to file a lost and found report. Again, give as much information about your movement while at the airport, your travel plans, and the item’s details.

Airport Lost and found services have dedicated contact numbers and or email that you should note for follow-ups. Try as much as possible to get a non-genric email address because you generally get a better response when you try to communicate with a specific individual.

If you think you left the item at a specific business at the airport, a bar, restaurant, or perhaps even a rent a car service then your best chances for recovery are to contact them right away.

It is also a good idea to check with Airport Lost and Found even if you have lost your items on the plane. Sometimes lost items bounce back and forth and may end up there.

If you have left the airport

If you have left the airport then your best bet is to find the local office for the Hawaiian Airline and get to them. They will help you file a report and kick start the search for your missing item. 

Unfortunately, as of writing this article, Hawaiian Airlines did not have an online form that you can submit to file a report so you will have to do it in person at a local representative or at least over the phone with them.

Traveling first class or having Premier Club membership

If you are traveling in first-class, extra-comfort, or if you have a Hawaiian Airlines Premier Club membership, it might be useful to mention that to airline staff and the personnel at the Lost and Found department. 

Airlines are usually extra helpful when it comes to premium service and loyal customers. They will go out of their way to help you find your lost belongings.

Third-party services

While it is not recommended for you to go to third-party services for lost item recoveries, in some cases it might be actually helpful. For example, TSA has officially partnered with Rejjee to help you find items misplaced in TSA jurisdiction areas. The service is free and easy to use and you can file an online report to start the process.

In all of the situations above, if your item is found you might have to pay for delivery charges so that the courier service can deliver the item to you.

Final word

While there are chances that you may not recover your lost item while traveling through airports, the good news is that many items that are lost are reunited with their owners on a daily basis. The key is speed. 

How quickly you take action and the action you take in the right order will drastically increase your chances of recovering your belongings.

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