JFK Airport Lost and Found – Lost Property, Baggage, and Luggage Help

John F. Kennedy International Airport's lost and found manages misplaced luggage and personal belongings across all terminals. Nearly 40% of the reported lost items are often left behind at the security followed by the boarding gates, which accounts for 25% of the lost luggage. 

Similarly, for arriving passengers, most lost baggage items are reported at the baggage claim areas of John F Kennedy International Airport. 

In 2025, JFK reported 1,672,227 articles that are unclaimed and continued to the highest volume of lost property at JFK airport.

The items that are mostly found midspaced include phones, passports, and luggage. Some items are found and returned to the passengers, but it depends on how quickly they report.

At JFK, there are about 1.72 lost baggage complaints for every 100,000 passengers. Of these, 7% of the cases were where passengers never received their lost belongings.

How to File a Lost Item Report at JFK Airport?

Travelers must report the lost items at JFK Airport immediately. Follow these steps:

• Assess the location where the baggage or item is lost. For example, at the security, at the terminal, or inside the aircraft.

• Contact the designated office. JFK Airport's lost baggage team allows travelers to report items online, which is faster and easier. The airport uses tools like Chargerback to track lost baggage. 

• File a report and fill out the form about the lost item details. Mention the brand, color, size, and any special identity. 

Pro tip: Passengers must provide their contact details s that the airport can update them if they find a lost item. 

Contact Details for JFK Lost and Found

The contact details provided belong to the JFK airport customer service for lost and found. These contact details vary depending on the location where travelers have lost their items.

TSA-Specific Lost and Found at JFK

For baggage lost at the security screening zone at John F kennedy International Airport, refer to the TSA lost and found JFK contact numbers for the following terminal:

Terminal-by-Terminal Lost and Found JFK Airport

John F. Kennedy International Airport has five active terminals, and each terminal manages its lost and found differently. 

JFK Airport Lost and Found Terminal 1

• For any item lost inside JFK Terminal 1, contact (718) 751-1200.

• Any item lost at the TSA checkpoint at JFK, contact 718) 917-3999.

• For all items lost on board the aircraft, contact the respective airlines. 

JFK lost and found terminal 4

• JFK Termianl 4 has a dedicated lost and found operator Smarte Carte. They can be reached at (347) 684-3604 as well as via email T4Lostandfound@smartecarte.com.

JFK Airport lost and found terminal 5

• For any lost items at JFK Terminal 5, report online at jetblue.com/lostandfound. For any items lost inside the terminal, contact them at (718) 244-4225. For lost luggage, contact JetBlue at 1-866-538-5438. 

JFK Airport lost and found terminal 8

• For any delayed or misplaced luggage, contact American Airlines JFK Airport's lost and found team at 1-800-433-7300. Any loss at TSA security must be reported at (718) 487-7928. 

• For any baggage issues, there is a dedicated JFK Airport lost luggage desk near the baggage claim at JFK Terminal 8. 

Handling Lost Baggage at John F Kennedy International Airport

Any baggage that is lost after passing through security during departure or after clearing security upon arrival is handled by the airlines. 

Airlines at John F Kennedy International Airport have their dedicated team that handles the misplaced luggage queries. 

After realising that the baggage is delayed or lost, file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) within 24 hours. Details such as PNR and baggage tag identification numbers must be provided. Collect the baggage tracking number before leaving the airport. 

To end with, the JFK lost and found process requires immediate action, thus filing the lost item report within 24 hours of arrival. In 2025, the airline handled over 1.6 million items, which were unclaimed, with smartphones and luggage topping the list. 

Passengers benefit from the dedicated baggage recovery procedures at JFK terminals. Use the lost and found phone number for general inquiries. As well as refer to the terminal-specific contact details for lost items. Always provide a detailed description of the lost items and contact information for lost baggage at JFK Airport.