San Diego Airport Lost and Found: How to Report and Recover Items

• Office Location: West Side of Terminal 2, Lower Level

• Mailing Address: 3835 N. Harbor Dr., Ste. 1097, San Diego, CA 92101.

• Phone Number: 619 400 2140

• Working hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily

• In-Person Pickup Hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. (by appointment only)

• Response Time: Within 48 hours 

• Retention Period: Up to 90 days
  
  

How to Report Lost Items at SAN Airport

The San Diego Airport Lost and Found uses online claims as the primary method of reporting. In-person walk-ins are not accepted; all claims must be submitted in advance online or by phone before visiting the office.

Step 1: File a claim online or by phone

Submit a lost item report through the official SAN Airport Lost and Found portal or by calling (619) 400-2140 during office hours. The online system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so reports can be filed at any time, even immediately after landing or departing.

Step 2: Provide complete information

The claim form asks for personal contact details, including name, phone number, and email address, along with travel information such as the date, time, airline, and flight number. The more specific the information provided, the better the chances of a match.

Step 3: Describe the item in detail

Include the category, brand, colour, size, and any distinguishing features of the lost item. Uploading a photo of the item, or a similar image, significantly improves the matching process. Serial numbers, monograms, or unique markings are especially useful.

Step 4: Wait for a response

A Lost and Found custodian will reach out within 48 hours if a matching item is found in the office’s inventory. If no response is received within two days, follow up directly by phone or email.

Step 5: Arrange collection or shipping

Once a match is confirmed, the item can be collected in person at the office during pickup hours (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., by appointment only) or shipped via FedEx at the owner’s expense. A valid photo ID is required for in-person collection. 

San Diego Airport Lost and Found Policy

This policy provides all rules and regulations, including the areas, retention period, recovery process, and more.

• Items handled by the airport Lost and Found: The SAN Lost and Found office collects and holds items left in public airport areas, including terminal interiors, restrooms, curbside pick-up and drop-off areas, airport shuttles, the Rental Car Center, and parking lots.

• Items handled by the airline: Any item left on board an aircraft, in the seat pocket, overhead bin, or anywhere inside the plane, must be reported directly to the relevant airline’s lost and found department. The airport does not handle lost property in-flight. 

• Items lost at TSA security checkpoints: Items left at checkpoints during passing San Diego security wait times are collected by TSA and transferred to the airport's Lost and Found within 24 hours. For items left at a TSA checkpoint, passengers can also contact TSA directly at 855-787-2227.

• Retention period: Recovered items are held for up to 90 days. After this period, unclaimed items are donated, auctioned, or disposed of, depending on the item type. Filing a claim as early as possible after the loss significantly increases the likelihood of recovery.

• No walk-ins: The San Diego Airport Lost and Found office does not accept unannounced visits. All in-person pickups require a confirmed appointment arranged through the office by phone or via the claim process.
  
  

Directions to SAN Lost and Found Office

The Lost and Found office is located inside San Diego International Airport at:

3707 N. Harbor Drive, Suite 109, San Diego, CA 92101

• The office sits on the west side of Terminal 2, on the lower level. 

• Passengers arriving at the airport should enter Terminal 2, take the elevator or stairs to the lower level, and follow signage toward the west side of the building. 

• The office is not signposted from the terminal public areas, so calling ahead at (619) 400-2140 to confirm the exact access point before visiting.

For mailing or courier correspondence: 3835 N. Harbor Dr., Ste. 1097, San Diego, CA 92101.

Items San Diego Airport Handles

The San Diego Lost and Found office accepts and holds items found in public airport areas. Essential items are prioritised for storage and matching.

• Electronics: Phones, Laptops, tablets, headphones, chargers, and cameras.

• Travel Documents: Passports, boarding passes, visas, government-issued ID.

• Baggage and Luggage: Handbags, backpacks, carry-ons, wallets, purses.

• Clothing and Accessories: Jackets, scarves, hats, sunglasses, jewellery, watches.

• Keys: Car keys, house keys, and key fobs.

• Medical Items: Prescription glasses, hearing aids, medicines, and devices.

• Children's items: Strollers, toys, and car seats.

• Miscellaneous: Umbrellas, books, gift items, sports equipment.

Items of low value or non-essential nature may not be retained for the full 90-day period. High-value items, electronics, travel documents, medical devices, and keys receive priority handling.

Items not handled by the airport's Lost and Found:

• Items left on board aircraft (contact the airline directly)

• Checked baggage that has not arrived or has been damaged (contact the airline’s baggage claim desk)

• Items left in rideshare or taxi vehicles (contact Uber, Lyft, or the taxi company directly)
  
  

From Where Lost Items are collected

• Restrooms

• TSA security checkpoints

• Terminal Loop

• Car Rental at San Diego Airport

• Employee Shuttles

• Parking Lots

• Other general interior or exterior area.
  
  

Airlines and Their Lost and Found Contact Numbers

Items left onboard must be reported directly to the airline, and not to the airport. Flyers can call these numbers and register their complaints for lost items.

Tips for Reporting Lost Items at San Diego Airport

While reporting a lost item at San Diego Airport, passengers should stay aware and quick to get it back as soon as possible.

1. Act immediately: File a claim as soon as the loss is discovered, whether at the airport, in the taxi, or after arriving home. Items are most likely to be found and matched within the first 24 to 48 hours. Waiting several days before reporting significantly reduces the chances of recovery.

2. File in the right place: Determine where the item was lost before filing a report. Items lost in a public airport area should be reported to the San Diego Airport Lost and Found. Items lost on an aircraft go to the airline’s lost and found department. Items lost at a TSA checkpoint go to TSA.

3. Be as specific as possible in the description: Generic descriptions are difficult to match against a large inventory. Include the brand, model, colour, size, case type, any screen cracks or physical damage, serial number if known, and any identifying stickers or markings. A photo attached to the claim significantly improves matching.

4. Include your flight and travel details: Providing the travel date, airline, flight number, terminal used, and approximate time the item was last seen helps the Lost and Found staff narrow the search area. Confirming whether the item was lost before or after security, and in which terminal, is useful.

5. Follow up after 48 hours: If no response is received within two business days of filing a claim, call the Lost and Found office directly at (619) 400-2140 to follow up. Items may have been turned in after the initial claim was filed, so re-checking during the 90-day retention period is advised.

6. Use FedEx shipping for out-of-area recovery: Passengers who have already returned home or travelled onward can arrange for their recovered item to be shipped via FedEx at their own expense. The Lost and Found office will prepare the item for shipment once ownership is confirmed and the shipping label or account details are provided.

7. Keep a copy of all booking confirmations and receipts: For high-value electronics or luggage, being able to prove ownership, through a purchase receipt, IMEI number, or serial number, speeds up the verification process and reduces the chance of a dispute over ownership.

San Diego Airport deals with lost items that are misplaced in public areas. Filing a claim online or by phone immediately after the loss, providing a detailed description with supporting photos, and following up within the 48-hour response window provides a high chance of recovery. For items left on board aircraft, contacting the airline directly is the first step; the airport’s Lost and Found does not manage in-flight lost property. Recovered items are retained for up to 90 days.