LOS ANGELES - Since the final play Sunday evening in Super Bowl LVI, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has screened more than 150,000 passengers and crew through its security checkpoints. With such a high volume of activity comes this reality: travelers inadvertently leave hundreds of items behind at areas throughout the airport.
Any left behind item discovered anywhere in the airport is collected and stored centrally at the LAX Lost and Found office, which is run by the LAX Airport Police. Items are retained for 90 days.
The Lost and Found office staff inventories and posts generic descriptions of items online. The traveling public can expect to see all items lost in public areas of the airport posted to help expedite their search. If an item that was left behind in the public area of the airport is not posted, then it was not received by the Lost and Found office. Due to the high volume of property left behind at TSA security checkpoints, not every item left there is posted online.
To begin the search for a left-behind item, visit FlyLAX.com/lost-n-found and file a claim online. All Lost and Found claims must be submitted via this website. Be sure to have as much information as possible about the item including date when the item was left behind, location where you last had it and detailed description of the item.
“More than 5,000 items per month are left behind at the TSA security checkpoints at LAX. That is why a coordinated Lost and Found effort is key to reuniting travelers with their personal property,” said TSA LAX Stakeholder Manager Tung Huynh. “Recently-posted signage at the back of the security checkpoints at LAX and around the airport features a QR code to make filing a Lost and Found claim simple and quick. Once a traveler scans the code, they will be prompted to enter key information and submit the claim.”
Airport Police officers will review the claims and communicate primarily via email with travelers. If the item is located and ownership is verified, the item will be scheduled for shipping at the owner’s expense. Left behind driver licenses and identification cards are automatically mailed to the address listed on the credential.
Some of the most common left behind items at LAX include electronics including laptops, tablets and e-readers, keys and key fobs; belts, jewelry, watches and sunglasses; entire suitcases; and canes, walkers, other mobility devices. Over the past few days, an increased number of just-purchased Super Bowl LVI souvenirs including hats, programs and lanyards have been discovered around the airport.
Here are tips to avoid having your personal property end up in any airport lost and found office:
- Place items like cell phones, keys and key fobs, driver licenses and ID cards, wallets, loose change and COVID-19 vaccine cards in a secure area of your carry-on baggage. These do not need to be removed during the screening process. Securing them prior to screening will prevent those items from being left behind.
- Don’t remove personal accessories during screening. Most pieces of jewelry (rings, bracelets, watches, earrings and small necklaces) do not need to be removed during the security screening process.
- Because electronics larger than a cell phone (i.e., laptops, tablets, e-readers and gaming consoles) must be removed from carry-on luggage in general screening lanes, tape a business card or some other identifying information to the item. This will increase the odds of being reunited with the left behind item.
- Allow plenty of time to go through the security process to avoid being rushed and leaving items behind.
- Before departing the security checkpoint, double-check the bins and area around the bins to make sure all of your belongings have been collected.
LAX Lost and Found officials caution travelers to ensure that their claim is filed with the FlyLAX.com website and not a third-party website. For a list of Lost and Found contacts at airports across the country, visit https://www.tsa.gov/contact/lost-and-found.