Lost & Found

Buffalo Airport Lost and Found

Lost something at Buffalo Niagara International Airport? Report it immediately — airport lost and found offices hold items for 30–90 days, but recovery rates drop sharply after the first 24 hours.

Left somewhere in the airport (not at security)

Airport Lost and Found

716-630-6000, Prompt #3 (items lost in the terminal); 716-634-0351 ext. 21 (parking lots or shuttle bus); TSA checkpoint items go to TSA's local line rather than the airport, see tip

Location: No single walk-in lost-and-found counter is published — claims are handled by phone or the online report form. General Customer Service (which fields these calls) is based at the Information Desk, Lower Level across from baggage claim.

Hours: Not published specifically for lost & found. Customer Service office hours are Monday–Friday 8am–4pm, with a 24-hour phone contact line (716-630-6072) for after-hours.

File an online claim →

Left at the TSA security checkpoint

TSA Lost Property

1-866-289-9673

Items left at the TSA checkpoint are logged locally before being entered into TSA's national system — call as soon as you notice something missing for the best chance of recovery.

File a TSA claim online →

Note: items left in gate areas may also be held by the airline's gate staff — contact the airline directly for gate-area and on-board lost items.

What to do right now (step by step)

Check with the airline first — items left at gates or on the plane go to the airline, not the airport.
If lost in the terminal: call 716-630-6000, Prompt #3 (items lost in the terminal); 716-634-0351 ext. 21 (parking lots or shuttle bus); TSA checkpoint items go to TSA's local line rather than the airport, see tip or go to No single walk-in lost-and-found counter is published — claims are handled by phone or the online report form. General Customer Service (which fields these calls) is based at the Information Desk, Lower Level across from baggage claim..
If lost at the security checkpoint: call TSA at 1-866-289-9673 or file a claim online.
File an online claim if available — written claims are processed faster and create a searchable paper trail.
Check back in 24–48 hours — items are logged as they come in and may not appear in the system immediately.

Pro Tip

Who you call depends on where you lost it: the airport's own TSA-checkpoint line (716-635-2222 per the Contact Us page, though the Lost & Found page separately lists 716-635-1222 — try either, or email BUF-LostandFound@tsa.dhs.gov), 716-634-0351 ext. 21 for parking lots/shuttles, 716-630-6000 Prompt #3 for the terminal generally, or your airline directly for anything left on the plane or at the gate.

Frequently asked questions

How long does BUF airport keep lost items?

Most airports hold unclaimed items for 30–90 days before donating or auctioning them. File your claim as quickly as possible to maximize recovery chances.

What if I left something on the plane?

Items left on aircraft go to the airline, not the airport lost and found. Contact the airline directly — each airline has its own baggage service phone number and online claim process.

How do I report a lost item at the TSA checkpoint at BUF?

Call TSA at 1-866-289-9673 or file a claim at tsa.gov/travel/customer-service. Items left at security checkpoints are held for 30 days.

Can I file a lost item report online for BUF?

Yes — BUF has an online lost item report form. Filing online is recommended as written claims are typically processed faster than phone reports alone.

Know exactly when to leave for the airport

The Leave-By Time calculator folds the live BUF TSA wait, real-time drive time from your door, and gate-walk distance into one exact time to leave home — no guesswork.

Calculate my Leave-By Time →

TSA·WAIT·TIMES