Lost & Found

New Orleans Airport Lost and Found

Lost something at Louis Armstrong New Orleans 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

504-303-7790

Location: Customer Service / Lost & Found Office, Level 1 Baggage Claim near Door 6

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8am–4pm (call 504-303-7700 for after-hours assistance)

File an online claim →

Left at the TSA security checkpoint

TSA Lost Property

1-866-289-9673

Items left at the security checkpoint itself are handled by TSA rather than the airport's Lost & Found — MSY's TSA checkpoint can also be reached directly at 504-463-2252. File as soon as you notice something missing; recovery odds drop quickly after the first day or two.

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 504-303-7790 or go to Customer Service / Lost & Found Office, Level 1 Baggage Claim near Door 6.
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

MSY holds most recovered items for 60 days, but sensitive items are held for a much shorter window — IDs and passports for only 7 days, and credit/debit cards for just 24 hours — so call immediately if you've lost a wallet or travel documents rather than waiting.

Frequently asked questions

How long does MSY 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 MSY?

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 MSY?

Yes — MSY 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 MSY 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