Port Authority Launches Online Lost and Found for JFK, Newark & LaGuardia Airports

If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of losing an item at a busy airport, you’re not alone. Fortunately, travelers flying through the major New York and New Jersey airports now have a more convenient way to recover their lost items. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has launched a dedicated online lost and found system for its major transportation hubs, including John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

Thanks to this digital initiative, passengers who misplace personal items at any of these airports can now report them online and, in some cases, have them shipped back to their home address. A recent post on JFK Airport’s official social media page read, “Did you lose something at our airport? We may be able to ship it back to you!” — a promising message for any traveler stressed about a missing item.

How the Port Authority Lost and Found Works
The process is simple. Travelers who believe they lost an item inside any Port Authority-operated airport terminal can visit the official Lost and Found portal on the Port Authority’s website. From there, users can:

Fill out an online form describing the lost item (color, brand, size, unique features, etc.)

Specify the date, time, and location where they last remember having the item (e.g., security checkpoint, food court, restroom, gate area)

Upload any supporting documents or photos if available

If a matching item is found, the lost and found office will reach out to the traveler for verification and arrange the return — either via pick-up or mail delivery.

What Items Are Eligible?
It’s important to note that the Port Authority only handles items lost within the airport terminals or facilities they manage. This includes security checkpoints, waiting areas, restrooms, restaurants, and other public areas inside the terminal. Items lost onboard an aircraft, however, fall under the responsibility of the airline — not the airport. In such cases, travelers must contact their airline’s own lost and found department.

Why This Matters for Travelers
Airports are fast-paced, high-traffic environments where it’s easy to misplace valuable belongings like passports, laptops, phones, wallets, or travel documents. Until recently, recovering lost items often involved lengthy calls, confusion about which agency to contact, or even multiple trips back to the terminal. The new online lost and found service by the Port Authority streamlines the entire process, improving the likelihood of item recovery.

Whether you’re flying through JFK, Newark, or LaGuardia, this centralized system offers peace of mind to passengers. If you’ve lost something at the airport, don’t panic — visit the Port Authority’s Lost and Found page and submit your claim as soon as possible.

Act quickly. The sooner you report a lost item, the higher the chances of recovery. For anything lost on the plane, contact your airline directly.