Lost & Found

Knoxville Airport Lost and Found

Lost something at McGhee Tyson 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

865-342-3088

Location: Information Booth, Baggage Claim (lower level) — or report online via the Dispatch-run Lost and Found portal

Hours: Online claims can be filed anytime; in-person item retrieval is Monday–Friday, 10:00am–5:00pm

File an online claim →

Left at the TSA security checkpoint

TSA Lost Property

1-866-289-9673

Items lost at the TSA checkpoint go through TSA's process above; items lost anywhere else in the terminal go to the airport's Dispatch/Information Booth, and items left on the aircraft should go to your airline directly.

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 865-342-3088 or go to Information Booth, Baggage Claim (lower level) — or report online via the Dispatch-run Lost and Found portal.
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

File your claim online as soon as you notice something missing — TYS's system sends an immediate confirmation email, a 3-day follow-up, and weekly updates for up to a month, and items are held for a minimum of 30 days. If you can't return to TYS in person, the airport offers secure FedEx shipping to send your item to you.

Frequently asked questions

How long does TYS 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 TYS?

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 TYS?

Yes — TYS 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 TYS 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