Did you recently by any chance forget your Laptop or Mobile Phone at the Airport? Then there are a few chances of getting them back with the help of the Terminal Operations Department which has set up a ‘Lost & Found’ online tracking service. This means that in case you have lost something at any of the Indian Airports you can possibly get it back if the item has fallen into the honest employee’s hands. If the item is stolen then the chances of getting it back is very hard or say impossible because there seems to be no check on the ground staff and we cannot complaint about it.Generally the Airport Police is responsible for all the goods and articles which are lost and found at the Airport and this is maintained by the respective Airport Statutes. In case you have lost something you need to first report the same to the Airline followed by the Airport Authorities and ask about the item. In case you ignore these steps and feel that the chances of getting your articles back is not possible then after a few weeks these items are generally auctioned or sent to a salvage company. Initially all the items are sent to the baggage office following which they are sent to the warehouse with proper numbering to locate it back. Next depending on the respective Airport’s rules its sent to the salvage company.
This ends the basic procedure on what happens to your items, now lets look into how to get them back. Here are a few links which can be useful in order to recover when you are travelling around different countries.
US & UK :
Most of the Transportation Security Administration supported airports in the United States of America are covered here where you can find the direct contact numbers and register your complaint for the same. The Heathrow Airport’s lost property office is operated by bagport which maintains a lost property database here covering the following locations > Arlanda, City Terminal, Gardermoen, Heathrow etc
India :
In India the case is bit different because based on numerous reports we have found that the Airport Authorities themselves would keep your belongings and would rarely pass over to the ‘Lost & Found’ department. The Central Industrial Security Force [CISF] has an website which has a online utility service to track your items based on the Date of Travel. The Information is updated here every day with a delay of 3 days following which you need to select the location and the Date of travel to get the list of items found. Along with the list of Items you are also given with other information like Make, Color, Remarks to easily identify the Item along with the direct contact details to procure it back.
Australia :
If you are from Sydney, then the T1 International Terminal team can help you out for Lost Property which suggests you to contact the Airline directly or else call them at +61 2 9667 9583 or mail them at sit.reception@syd.com.au, Contact T2 Domestic Terminal Lost Property on +61 2 9352 7450, Contact T3 Qantas Terminal Lost Property on +61 2 9952 9312. At Melbourne, the Travellers Services handles these services and would cover items lost at Terminal 2 (T2), Terminal 3 (T3), Terminal 4 (T4) and the security checkpoints only. You can contact them at Phone +61 3 9297 1805 & Email lost@easygo.com.au
In case you lost your baggage in a Taxi, then the taxi service provider is to be contacted and not anyone from the above. Generally the following items are handled by the above departments – Car and house keys, Passports, Wallets, Purses, Handbags, Mobile Phones, Laptops, Cameras and Video Cameras, MP3 Players, Transportation, Electrical Equipment, Hand-held Gaming Consoles, Sporting Goods, Pet Animals, Watches, Luggage Bags and any other items which seem to be of some value.
PS : In case you get lost, then don’t contact any of the above numbers but contact the nearby Police Station and report a missing complaint.
