Lost something at Airport or in a flight? Click here to report online

Dedicated investigation manager for every successful lost report. We work with more than 15000+ Airports & Airlines lost and found offices worldwide. Increase chance of locating your lost property TODAY.


Luggage missing at the airport? Here’s what to do

Alaska airlines lost and found
Alaska airlines lost and found

Lost bags are not all that common. Yes, last year more than a million bags were ‘mishandled’ (as the Department of Transportation puts it), but that works out to less than three bags per every thousand passengers.

But of course, it does happen. The good news is the situation is improving. Here’s what you need to know about missing luggage.

Fewer bags go missing today.

But it’s not just because airlines are getting better at tracking. The reason: Fewer passengers are checking bags, a trend that began in 2008 with the rise of baggage fees. Yet airlines have been doing a better and better job of getting luggage where it’s supposed to go, too. The following figures were compiled from a 2015 baggage report and they show the number of mishandled bags per thousand passengers over a seven year time-span.

–Worldwide, 2007 – 18.8 bags

–Worldwide, 2014 – 7.7 bags

That’s an incredible improvement but the U.S. was no slouch, either. Last year alone, the number of mishandled bags per thousand was a mere 2.7.

New tracking systems

Late last year, Delta began using a new tracking system for bags that allows passengers a first hand view of where their suitcase is at any given moment via a phone app. The bag itself is tracked via a radio frequency identification (RFID) system that includes a chip embedded into luggage tags. Is it foolproof? Nothing is. But Delta seems to be getting closer and closer to the ideal.

There are also plenty of do-it-yourself tracking options out there, too, including LugLoc and Trakdot systems for under $75 (and we found these and others on Amazon). Caution: These trackers don’t mean bags can’t get lost but may mean you’ll get them sooner if they do go astray.

Delayed bag perks

This is only good on two airlines and only applies to checked-bags that take longer than 20 minutes to make it to the baggage carousel. Delta will give you a voucher good for 2,500 miles and Alaska will offer the same, or a voucher good for $25 on your next Alaska airlines lost and found flight. Alaska Airlines lost property

If this happens to you, contact an airline rep near the carousel.

What to do when bags go missing

Make a report: Do not not leave the airport without first making a report, and this is true for lost, delayed and damaged bags.

Keep all receipts: When bags go missing for at least 12 hours, airlines generally will reimburse owners for toiletries but you will need to show receipts.

Stay in touch with the airline lost and found: It may take a few days before a bag is officially declared “lost.” At that point, go to your airline’s site to find claim forms to fill out. Depending on what you packed, you could be reimbursed for up to $3,500 per the Department of Transportation (learn more about that here).

Tips to avoid lost bags

Use a carry-on bag: This is one bag that can’t get lost because it flies by your side. On most airlines, carry-ons are free, but even if you have to pay, the peace of mind is worth it.

Get to the airport early: Again, this is no guarantee that this will mean bags will go where they’re supposed to but it does give baggage handlers more time to get the bags started on the right path.

Document your bag: Make sure there is some tag or card identifying it as yours, both inside and outside the bag. Then, take a picture of your bag– you may need it to help identify if it goes missing. Finally, is your bag black? Yeah, yours and everyone else’s! So tie a colorful ribbon around the handle or put some colorful duct tape somewhere, just so another traveler doesn’t walk away with it by mistake.


Lost something at Airport or in a flight? Click here to report online

Dedicated investigation manager for every successful lost report. We work with more than 15000+ Airports & Airlines lost and found offices worldwide. Increase chance of locating your lost property TODAY.

Latest Post

How Delta is trying to fix the problem of lost and delayed luggage
American Airlines is ‘reimbursing passenger for lost luggage after she spotted her clothes being sold on Facebook’
Bracelet appearing to hold loved one’s ashes found at Hobby Airport lost and found. Can you help find its owner?
Better late than never: Missing since Christmas, lost cat rescued at New York’s by LaGuardia airport lost and found authorities
A Delta flight attendant is seeking a lost stuffed animal’s owner for a ‘Christmas miracle’ reunion
Leave your phone on the plane? Here’s how lost and found works at Miami, Broward airports
Swae Lee Is Offering $20,000 For Lost Hard Drive That Contains All Of His Songs
Heathrow Airport wins court backing for third runway
Precious painting, lost at German airport, found at dumpster
Auckland Airport lost property sparks hunt for toy’s missing owner
Sydney Airport auctioning hundreds of lost property items for charity
Valuable painting lost at Duesseldorf airport found in dumpster
DFW Airport lost and found department reunites a lost dog with his family after canine wanders 30 miles from home
Philadelphia Airport; a complete tour guide for travelers
Hopkins Airport lost and found and Local woman finds locket with ashes in a parking lot, looking for owner
American airlines lost and found contact details
McCarran Airport Lost and Found surplus auctions to be hosted online
Virgin Atlantic lost and found names passenger hand luggage item most frequently lost in cabin
CBS News reporter helps owner find $40,000 in lost jewelry at Dallas airport lost and found
LUGGAGE CHAOS MMA fighter Curtis Dodge relieved after lost luggage located after American Airlines lost and found from Dublin ahead of pro debut
Lufthansa lost and found launches solution for contactless lost baggage claims
Visitors to the annual Pittsburgh Airport lost and found auction Saturday pore over jewelry and other items.
A unicycle, a Nasa camera and SHRUNKEN HEADS: The wackiest of unclaimed airline luggage over the last 50 years
Traffic down 62.9% in Aug. at Puerto Rico’s LMM; Luis Muñoz Marín Airport lost and found service unveiled
Taiwan’s EVA Air lost and found Reshuffles Boeing 787 Order
TSA Agent Saves The Day After Wedding Dress Was Lost At Newark liberty Airport lost and found
Adorable pup ‘Ginger,’ lost for 2 days at john f kennedy airport lost and found, gets emotional reunion with owner
Travellers left behind nearly one million dollars at US airport checkpoints last year Pittsburgh Airport lost and found
Lost toy dog returns home with help of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport lost and found
6-year-old reunited with lost stuffed-animal at St. Pete-Clearwater Airport lost and found
Dubai Airport lost and found police return lost items to tourists from UK, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to their countries
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport lost and found wants to return this stuff animal
Air New Zealand lost and found flight attendant loses ERA case against airline
TSA LOST AND FOUND CONTACT NUMBERS
What happens to unclaimed items found at DFW Dallas Airport lost and found?
Hong Kong Airport lost and found
Airline Lost Your Luggage? Here’s What You Should & Shouldn’t Do
Lost something at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport lost and found?
Tons of Valuable Items are Left Behind at London Heathrow Airport Lost and Found
Reclaiming lost items at los angeles international airport lost and found
Chicago O’Hare Airport Lost and Found
Hartsfield–Jackson Airport Lost and Found attracts $75,000 at auction
HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LOST AND FOUND
JFK AIRPORT LOST AND FOUND
JOHN F. KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LOST AND FOUND
Air Canada CEO sees ‘darkest period’ in aviation history
McCarran airport lost and found reduces operation hours at security checkpoints
TSA Staff Open Pantry at Reagan Washington for Airport Colleagues
There’s Actually A Store In Alabama That Sells Unclaimed Airport Baggage
Lost your luggage: What to do when you lose bags on airline
Changi Airport’s virtual assistant seeks to make air travel stress-free
Corona: Germany Lost 6 million ordered masks in Kenya Airport lost and found
The weirdest and most wonderful things left behind in Uber cars last year
Dubai Police return Dh50k to man just minutes before he was due to board flight
Popular Clark County surplus auction to take place this month
Unbearably cute: A boy lost his teddy bear on a US flight – so the Southwest Airlines lost and found sent him a new one
How to avoid airport security delays during the holidays
Cyprus complains after EasyJet lost luggage ends up at airport in north
Clark County to host largest surplus auction of the year
Stansted Airport lost property lands on list of worst in the UK for lost luggage
Flyers bemoan AirPods lost on an airplanes- Delta Air Lines lost and found
First day in America, visitor loses $3,000 in Peoria lost and found— and gets it all back
Thousand of items go under the hammer at Perth Airport lost and found auction
Pittsburgh International Airport To Auction Off Thousands Of Unclaimed ‘Lost And Found’ Items
What happens to cars abandoned at Pittsburgh airport lost and found? Sold at auction
St. George airport’s runway reopens after reconstruction
What Happens To Passengers’ Lost Luggage?
Gatwick Airport chaos: Baggage belt failure forces planes to depart without luggage
Where does all the abandoned luggage at DIA lost and found go?
Where does all the abandoned luggage at DIA lost and found go?
Custodian accused of stealing guitar left at Jacksonville Airport lost and found Christmas Day
Rejjee Modernizes Lost and Found at US Airports Coast to Coast
Brisbane Airport’s Lost Property Auction to help kids through The Courier-Mail Children’s Fund
Lost Luggage? Here’s How to Handle It- British Airways lost property
Annual public auction at Pittsburgh International Airport lost and found scheduled
A day in the life of Cork Airport Lost Property units
Remember that lost memory stick from Heathrow Airport lost property? The terrorist’s wet dream? So does the ICO
What’s lost at Palm Beach International Airport and not found, gets sold or donated
Belfast International Airport lost and found is full of surprises
Forgotten Gold Coast airport lost and found belongings go to good cause
Passenger accuses Air Canada lost and found of dangerously poor lost-baggage security
How long are TSA lines at Sea-Tac ? Check the airport’s new app- Seattle-Tacoma Airport lost and found
Airport cops, security officers recognized after returning P1.5 M to passenger-Puerto Princesa International Airport lost and found
Should airline reimburse couple who waited for lost luggage? Norwegian Air lost and found
Kansai airport lost and found to give souvenirs for unwanted suitcases
AirPods are lost easily and, in some cases, miraculously found
Cash, wedding rings and live animals: Inside Dublin Airport lost and found
Airport staff return girl’s lost soft toy after taking it on ‘awesome’ adventure – Norfolk International Airport lost and found
Tweet Over Stuffed Animal Lost in Boston’s Logan Airport Goes Viral
Graeme McDowell explains lost clubs fiasco- Charles de Gaulle Airport lost and found
Cat Mysteriously Escapes Crate on BWI Airport Tarmac, Is Later Found Dead — and Owner Blames TSA
Lost phone found inside bag
At the Airport Already? Make Some Extra Cash Delivering Lost Luggage for Delta lost and found
Norfolk Airport auctioning off lost & found items, abandoned vehicles
Lost your luggage while flying? Here’s what to do
The Museum of ‘Please Find Me’ – JFK Airport lost and found
United Airlines pilot flies lost wedding ring over 2,500 miles to owner
Girl’s lost teddy flown 200 miles home to Orkney from Edinburgh lost property
Kitten adopted after being found at Orlando International Airport lost and found
Karaoke stand, walking sticks up for grabs in Brisbane airport lost property auction