Losing anything amid the hustle and bustle of a big airport can seem daunting, but LAX offers a professional lost-and-found system that can help passengers find what they’ve lost. This lost and found is maintained by the Airport Police Division, which works to reunite passengers with items lost in public areas around the airport.
It is important to note that not all lost items can be found through a single division, as LAX has different departments for handling items lost in specific areas of the airport. If a traveler loses something while passing through security, in flight, or elsewhere, they must go to a specific department for faster item recovery.
The main office of lost and found at LAX is strategically located so passengers can easily approach it for a personal meeting about their lost item. This office is situated on the Arrival level of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).
The official address of this office is: 5600 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045
Office hours vary by department but usually follow normal business hours, opening in the morning and closing in the evening on working days.
For greater convenience, LAX offers different telephone numbers for contacting each department regarding lost items, depending on the location where they were found.
If the lost object is on the plane or at the boarding gate, it needs to be reported directly to the airline.
The following departments will handle different types of priority:
LAX Police Lost and Found: Takes care of items lost in terminals, restrooms, airport parking, and other public facilities
TSA: Takes responsibility for items left in TSA checkpoint lines
Airline Carriers: Take care of items lost in planes or at the boarding gates
Transport & Parking Services: Take care of items left in shuttles, rental vehicles, or airport parking lots
It is important to know whom to contact because it will help you recover the lost items faster.
Submitting a timely report may help you recover your items. At Los Angeles International Airport, travelers should report lost items on the airport’s website, especially if they were traveling with airlines such as Emirates or Lufthansa. You can also call the Lost and Found Department directly if you prefer, where staff assist passengers arriving on different international and domestic carriers.
In order to report your missing items, you should provide the following information:
Having details and accurate information will make it easier for the Lost and Found Department to locate your belongings.
As soon as you report your missing item and it is found, the Lost and Found LAX department will provide you with instructions to retrieve it. Here are several ways to claim your item:
| In-person retrieval | You will need to go to the Lost and Found Office with a valid government-issued ID and a claim number. |
| Authorized pick-up | An authorized representative can pick up the lost item from the department, provided they provide you with written consent and identification. |
| Shipping service | If you cannot personally come to LAX, LAX will ship your found item to your home. |
LAX normally holds the found items for a limited time, usually about 30 days. After this period, if your item remains unclaimed, then it may be:
Finding your missing possession relies greatly on prompt action and accurate reporting. Take note of the following essential steps:
The lost and found process at Los Angeles International Airport is straightforward but requires that one know the procedure. One can easily recover lost items by contacting the proper department and providing the required information promptly.
Regardless of where your possessions have gone missing, from a terminal, while passing through security, or even during the flight, the LAX Airport has made provisions for such an eventuality.
The primary Lost and Found office is located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, at the arrival level.
The authorities to contact will depend on where the item was last seen.
Filing of lost items can be done online or through calls to the respective departments, providing necessary information such as the item description, where it was lost, and travel information.
LAX usually keeps lost items for thirty days, after which they donate or dispose of them.
Yes, recovery can be done by mailing the item or giving someone else permission to collect the lost item.