Lost and Found | Transportation Security Administration (2024)

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), some office in-person pick up is suspended until further notice.

The Lost & Found contacts are for items left at TSA security checkpoints or items missing from checked baggage. For items left in other areas of the airport, please check the airport's website for contact information.

Aberdeen Regional Airport (ABR)
Aberdeen, South Dakota
605-330-2500
Abilene Regional Airport (ABI)
Abilene, Texas
325-676-6367
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI)
Springfield, Illinois
309-757-6617
Adak Airport (ADK)
Adak, Alaska
907-592-0634
Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK)
Saranac Lake, New York
Online Form

Items left behind at TSA security checkpoints are held by TSA for a minimum of 30 days or until the item is reunited with the original owner.

Electronics

Passengers are encouraged to place their contact information on the outside of their electronics, such as laptops, in case the item is left behind. TSA will make every effort to reunite passengers with their belongings.

Unclaimed electronics will have its memory removed and destroyed (e.g. laptop hard drive) or be destroyed completely (e.g. items with non-removable memory) to protect personal data after the 30-day holding period.

Claiming Items

Passengers may return to the airport to pick up their item or may approve someone else, in writing, to do so. Items can be shipped back to the owner at the owner’s expense. TSA is not authorized to spend money to return items to passengers.

FAQ

Does TSA gain any profit from any lost or abandoned items?

Money from the sale of all lost and found items goes to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and into a general fund used to pay towards the U.S. national debt.

How do I file a claim for a missing or damaged item?

You may file a claim if you are injured or your property is lost or damaged during the screening process. Screening at certain airports is performed by private companies and not TSA.

How do I pick up my item from lost and found?

To retrieve the item, youmust be able to describe the item, when it was lost, the color of the item, or any information identifying the item, to ensure it is reunited with its rightful owner.

How do I recover a lost item left at the airport?

Contactlost and found to locate items left at the security checkpoint. For items left elsewhere in the airport, please contact the airport authority.

How many lost and found items are found by TSA annually?

TSA estimates that approximately 90,000 to 100,000 items are left behind at checkpoints each month.

What happens if an ID is left behind at a checkpoint?

TSA works with the airport to reunite passengers with all lost or unclaimed personal property, including personal identification items such as drivers’ licenses and passports, left behind at a checkpoint. If the ID is not claimed within 30 days, it is destroyed.

What happens to guns/weapons found in carry-on bags left behind?

All weapons detected in carry-on bags are turned over to local law enforcement authorities.

What happens to items left at security checkpoints? Is there a process?

TSA makes every effort to reunite passengers with items left behind at the airport checkpoint. Lost and found items retained by TSA for a minimum of thirty (30) days, and if not claimed, are either destroyed, turned over to a state agency for surplus property, or sold by TSA as excess property. The state may dispose of the items through sales, destruction, donations or charities. The state keeps any money from sales, not TSA. At a number of locations, lost and found items are turned over to the airport at the end of each day.

What happens to lost items that contain personal information?

Unclaimed electronics will have its memory removed and destroyed (e.g. laptop hard drive) or be destroyed completely (e.g. items with non-removable memory) to protect personal data after the 30-day holding period.

What information should I provide on the claim?

Provide as much detail as possible including receipts, appraisals and flight information to avoid delays. Contact your airline for lost or missing baggage.

What is the status of my claim?

Please allow up to six months to fully investigate your claim. Claims that require investigation by law enforcement require additional processing time.

All claims are investigated thoroughly and the final decision to approve a claim rests with TSA. If your claim is approved, you will receive a letter and form to complete regarding settlement agreement and/or payment methods. You can check the status of your claim at any time.

Lost and Found | Transportation Security Administration (2024)

FAQs

How do I recover items left at TSA? ›

Contact lost and found to locate items left at the security checkpoint. For items left elsewhere in the airport, please contact the airport authority.

What happens if I leave something at TSA? ›

TSA makes every effort to reunite passengers with items left behind at the airport checkpoint. Lost and found items retained by TSA for a minimum of thirty (30) days, and if not claimed, are either destroyed, turned over to a state agency for surplus property, or sold by TSA as excess property.

How do I call TSA about my lost ID? ›

You may call (855) 787-2227 or submit an online form.

How do I speak to a live TSA person? ›

Want to chat with a live rep? No problem! Reach us at @AskTSA on Facebook, Twitter & Apple Messages, or call (866) 289-9673.

What to do with a lost and found item? ›

One option is to hold an auction. Another option is to donate the items to a charity or non-profit organization. This can be a good way to help those in need while also getting rid of unclaimed items that are taking up space. The use of technology can greatly improve the effectiveness of a lost and found operation.

How do I buy unclaimed items at the airport? ›

Things You Should Know
  1. You can purchase items collected from unclaimed luggage at the Unclaimed Baggage store in Alabama, or on their website.
  2. Items that are confiscated by airport security are sold in bulk on the GovDeals website.
  3. Though it would be fun, you can't buy unopened, unclaimed luggage.
Feb 4, 2023

What is the most confiscated item at airports? ›

What are the most commonly confiscated items at the airport? Liquids—things like bottled water, shampoo, soda, alcohol, soap and sunscreen—in bottles larger than 3.4 ounces are by far the most commonly surrendered items at the airport security check, according to the TSA.

How do I find something I lost? ›

Strategies for finding lost items:
  1. Calm down and retrace your steps.
  2. Search clutters spaces first.
  3. Utilize search patterns.
  4. Check unusual and hidden places.
  5. Seek assistance from others.
  6. Stay calm and patient.
  7. Get organized and establish routines.
Aug 23, 2023

Can you buy TSA confiscated items? ›

Finding TSA Confiscated Items:

Look for online auctions or sales, such as GovDeals.com or PropertyRoom.com. These websites often feature items from various government agencies, including TSA confiscated items. Consider attending live auctions, which may be held at government facilities or other locations.

Will TSA let me fly if I lost my ID? ›

In the event you arrive at the airport without proper ID, because it is lost or at home, you may still be allowed to fly. By providing additional information, TSA has other ways to confirm your identity, like using publicly available databases, so you can reach your flight.

What to do if you lose your wallet at the airport? ›

There are three primary operations to consider:
  1. If you lose an item by the gate, on the plane, at the check-in counter or in an airline lounge, contact the airline.
  2. If you lose an item while going through security, talk to TSA.
  3. If you lose an item elsewhere in the airport, contact the airport.
Dec 23, 2022

Can I use my Social Security card to fly? ›

But your social security card is not valid ID. It used to say so right on the card. A birth certificate is not valid ID. You can't get on the plane.

Where is TSA headquarters located? ›

What is the known traveler number? ›

A Known Traveler Number (KTN) is issued to all individuals approved to receive TSA PreCheck® expedited screening. The KTN must be added in the KTN field when booking airline travel reservations to have the TSA PreCheck® indicator appear on your boarding pass.

What does TSA not allowed on planes? ›

Liquid or gel food items larger than 3.4 oz are not allowed in carry-on bags and should be placed in your checked bags if possible. TSA officers may instruct travelers to separate items from carry-on bags such as foods, powders, and any materials that can clutter bags and obstruct clear images on the X-ray machine.

How do I claim something I left on a plane? ›

Inform the baggage claim department

In the case that you do not remember your item until you have exited the security gate, head over to the airline baggage department. Speak to an airline representative and fill out a claim form. A submitted claim form increases your chances to retrieve the item.

Does TSA give back confiscated items? ›

Guns, weapons, hazardous materials or anything deemed illegal are turned over to local law enforcement. Forbidden liquids are immediately disposed of. All other items are either turned over to state agencies or kept by the TSA to be disposed of through sales, destruction or donations to charity.

Can I get something I left on a plane back? ›

Since you won't be able to return to the gate, the best plan of action is to head over to the carrier's baggage department and speak to a representative in-person. More often than not, when things go missing on an aircraft, they'll be relayed to the Lost & Found area at the claim office.

What do airports do with unclaimed items? ›

In the USA, much of it is sent to Unclaimed Baggage, a retail warehouse in Scottsboro, Alabama. Items forgotten at security checkpoints, left in overhead bins or seat-back pockets, or abandoned by fliers at the airport to meet weight requirements also typically end up at Unclaimed Baggage.

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