Lost & Found

Washington Airport Lost and Found

Lost something at Ronald Reagan Washington National 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

703-417-8560

Location: Each terminal (National Hall, B, and C) baggage claim area

Hours: Daily 7am–10pm

Left at the TSA security checkpoint

TSA Lost Property

1-866-289-9673

Items left at the security checkpoint are held for 30 days. File a claim promptly — TSA cannot guarantee recovery after this period.

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 703-417-8560 or go to Each terminal (National Hall, B, and C) baggage claim area.
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

DCA's three terminal areas are connected post-security via a secure walkway, so the central lost and found can coordinate across all buildings — one call typically handles all three terminal areas.

Frequently asked questions

How long does DCA 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 DCA?

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 DCA?

DCA does not currently list a standalone online lost item report form. Call 703-417-8560 to file by phone or visit Each terminal (National Hall, B, and C) baggage claim area in person.

Know exactly when to leave for the airport

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

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TSA·WAIT·TIMES