text: November 2, 2015 by Mommy Points 31 Comments
  Always active the Find my iDevice! Last year I left my iPad on the seat of a Super Shuttle. I called immediately, finding out just after the driver pulled away. The dispatcher said they would follow up with the driver. In the hotel I logged into iCloud and locked the device. Later that evening I was called back, with the driver claiming that it wasn't in the shuttle. The next day I get another call from the dispatcher saying they had the device. After I picked it up the I realized the iPad had been completely erased. However, with the lock activated the iPad could not be restarted without entering my password. Guess the driver thought it was no longer useful and decided to turn it in.
  I also left my iPad on an airplane. Realizing that I left it behind only after getting home and the airport closed, I logged in once again to iCloud. Since I had connected to the airport wifi I could see my device was sitting in the general area of the lost and found. Sure enough, calling the next morning I found out they had it. Finding out quickly online that the iPad was safe put my mind at ease.
  I recently left my Bose nose cancelling headphones on an American Airlines plane at my home airport. I didn't even notice them missing, as I usually put them on my carry-on. the next day I received a call from American letting me know that they had my headphones and I was so glad they did. I was able to set up a pick-up time at the airport counter to get them back. Excellent costumer service from American!
  Left my Bose headset and my iPod stick. I put them in the seatback and fell asleep then woke up to see that the plane had landed and half of the people had left. In a mad dash to meet my team before our next flight, I took off without them.
  I asked a FA on my next flight what were the chances of them of them being turned in and she said "slim to none – they were a valued commodity that even an FA might keep" and she was right. I called the airlines right after landing from my connecting flight, I filed all of the paperwork, and I checked for months to no avail.
  I actually stopped taking anything I did not need for the trips I took for a year because I was afraid of leaving such a valuable item again. I finally relented after suffering through too much airplane noise and getting a massive ear and headache and bought another set. I have not lost them in (knock on wood) over 4 years.
  Different rules on ELAL.
  Do not waste any time, head straight to the lost and found.
  ELAL security will have found your item and turned it in before you even realize it was forgotten. They will not load new pax before the aircraft is "sterile".
  After a 12 hour flight we hysterically were trying to argue our way back on board to retrieve valuable items, the items were waiting for us as soon as we presented ID.
  Two years ago I left my brand new iPhone on the plane. I realized it as we were pulling away from the airport and we immediately called and they had some one at the gate board the plane and look for it but they didn't find it. I came home, put it in LOST mode (it had been in airplane mode so there was no way I could locate it or call it), filled out appropriate paperwork with the airline and figured it was gone. Well, one month later I got an email saying that my phone had been connected to wifi and it included the address of a home across town. I called the police but still didn't think anything would come of it. But that night I got a call from the police that they had found my phone. Apparently the home belonged to someone who worked in airport food service who had been sold the stolen phone by someone who worked on the cleaning crew of the airline! They drove the phone to my house and gave it to me (unfortunately the expensive case was missing). I sure hope that guy lost his job!
  I left my PASSPORT and the passports for my WIFE AND THREE KIDS in the seat back flying Air Canada from Toronto to LAX. We'd had a delay flying into Toronto from Frankfurt, customs in Toronto was a train wreck, and our connection ended up being VERY tight (like they were closing the doors when we ran up to the gate begging them to keep it open); we'd also been flying already for 12 hours that day. As a result, I failed to put our passports in the standard spot in my backpack, wearily throwing them in the seat back in front of me…and I promptly slept through the entire YYZ-LAX flight. As a result, I totally spaced and groggily left the plane at LAX without said passports.
  And I didn't realize it for FOUR DAYS, right up until the night before we all had a flight to Mexico!
  I called Air Canada in LAX in a full-on panic, praying against all reason that someone found them jammed into the pocket and could fly them in from wherever the plane found itself. Remarkably, they had found the passports that same night (which was a little surprising, given the trash and used headphones I've often found in seat backs!) and had left them at the customer service desk in LAX. We were able to pick them up there on our way out the following morning and all's well that ended well.
  Needless to say, I don't care if I miss a flight: I ALWAYS spend the 30 seconds required to throw them in the little dedicated pocket in my backpack now!
  This post and the comments are giving me anxiety! I hate losing things, even things that are not very valuable. Just that feeling of knowing you've left something somewhere and a stranger is going through it… ugh! Glad your mom found her ipad! Sorry to others that have not been so lucky.
  As a frequent traveler, this has unfortunately happened to me several times. I've lost two pair of glasses (reunited with one). The one I am very sad about is losing my back support. I realized it an hour after I deplaned and immediately checked; however, another passenger probably picked it up while leaving the plane because there was no sign of it even though the plane was still at the gate. Beyond that I have also left things behind in security and never get those things back.
  My wife left her iPad on her seat in FC when we deplaned our Delta flight in SAN last Feb. As we were getting on to the car rental shuttle I received a call from Julie at Delta's lost baggage office by the carousel asking if I had left a computer on the plane (our tickets were in my DL account). I had my laptop and said "no", and then I asked my wife if she had her iPad – ??? I told Julie where we were, we jumped off the shuttle just before it was going to pull out, and went back to the baggage office and retrieved the iPad. Kudos to Delta, the FAs and/or plane cleaners who found the iPad, and Julie, who immediately contacted me (we still say "hi" to Julie every time we are waiting for our baggage at SAN).
  I love all the stories of successful reunions and hate when it doesn't work out! I would hate to lose an expensive item of any sort, but I'm always most afraid of forgetting my kid's blankie or similar since I couldn't replace that. It is stressful to remember to get all the stuff sometimes!
  Could you please explain how to use Twitter to ask an airline to help you out on something. I have a Twitter account and clicked on "follow" a few things like the Washington Post just to see how it worked. I don't understand how to utilize it to ask for individual help on something. Thanks.
  Dan, sure. So there are a few ways to do this, namely tweeting at the company directly or sending a direct message. To tweet directly at American you would do something like @AmericanAir – can you help I just left an iPad in the seatback pocket 8A of flight number 123 at the Miami airport.
  Leave things at home that you won't be needing . Then you don't have to keep track of them .
  I try not to put anything where I am likely to forget it . For instance I would be reluctant to set a brown item on a brown cushion or a small but important/expensive item in a seat pocket .
  My small carry on has one zippered pocket for passport , ticket , boarding pass only . So far I've been lucky . Knock , knock , knock !
  A couple of years ago I deplaned an overnight Copa flight in PTY and went to the gate where my connecting flight was about to leave. As soon as I got there I realized I left my iPad in the seat pocket. I ran back to the gate and told the gate agent my seat number, but he said he wasn't allowed. He didn't offer a solution, so I insisted someone get it. I think the other gate agent (I forget who it was) reluctantly boarded the plane. Thankfully she returned it to me with a snide "you need to be more careful."
  It all worked out, but sometimes I like to remind myself that customer service in the US isn't all that bad. Nice job by Frontier!
  I left my HTC phone on the plane, coming in from JFK to AUS. We just got off our TK flight that morning, coming in from IST. That's the first of our miles-influenced trip (paid some w miles, others with $). I was so tired on the AUS-bound flight, I fell asleep looking at pictures that I took with the phone.
  When we got to the baggage claim, I remember about the phone. Immediately asked the AA baggage office to see if anyone find a phone. Filled out lost and found form. Followed up with AA 1-800 number, called the airport the next day (and the day after), no phone. We followed all the tips above, except Twitter.
  Long story short, the phone was not recovered. In it was our video of being treated to impromptu choir recital at Notre Dame de Paris, right after noon Mass.
  I have lost way too many items ona plane. Anything high dollar or of importance i always make sure i put in my carry on bag under my feet. A book and a water bottle can go in the seat pocket (if they fit) but ipads, DVD players, phones, passports, etc always go in a carry on or my pocket for me.
  Well this is timely, just got off my PDX-HNL flight on Alaska yesterday and came to realize I forgot my GoPro 🙁 called them, they said they'd look and take it back to city of origin if found but unlike an iPhone or iPad the camera is much harder to trace or show as many mine so I doubt I'll be seeing it again 🙁
  Well here's my story, at present I am sitting in the glorious sunshine in Maui. We flew from Honolulu on Sunday 7th November 10.45am arriving 30 minutes later, iPod in front pocket, iPad in hand reading from it starts taking pictures, oh we're landing already. Collect items put iPad in bag off we go, pick up our luggage then shuttle to our hotel. As soon as I walked through the door of the reception it hit me I have left my iPad. Hawaiian airlines have been informed, we have phoned Honolulu and Maui list property and nothing. My 1st time forgetting or losing a treasured item so needless to say I am gutted. We fly home to Scotland on Friday night so I will try and try until then. They were notified in just over an hour but nothing has turned up……
  I believe! just wanted to update you and let you know AS called me and has found my camera and will be sending it back. My faith is restored. Thank you for this post!
  Thank you so much for this post! I did not know where to start when I found out I left my iPad but thanks to you! I even created a Twitter account. I am one of the lucky ones and was able to reunite with it.
  2nd leg of a trip from MSP to Madrid, and I threw up right as the plane was landing. No barf bags in either seat so I threw up on those lovely little blankets they give you and on myself. Had carry on luggage only. Waited until everyone was off the plane so I could go change in the bathroom. Took my necklace off that has my wedding ring, a silver cross, and a mother/child pendant with 3 diamonds in it, and put it in the sink because it needs rinsing too. You guessed it – I left it there. By the time I got out of the bathroom, the only people left on the plane was the flight crew and cleaning crew, and the necklace was too big to go down the drain. Filled out one of those online forms, went the the airport the next morning, and now ( with your hint) reached out to them via Twitter. Nothing yet. Considering calling the Madrid police. Thoughts?
  I worked for two airlines for 25 years.. because you lost them outside of the USA I think you won't get them back. I hope you had them insured! Since most cleaning crews are contract and get paid nothing there is no incentive for them to be honest. When I worked at an airport they even stole from us. If they get caught they don't get fired, nobody wants the job…I don't bring anything valuable when I go on trips. No jewelry…Sorry this happened!
  i've read all these comment some of them really gave me hope but then i remember that its impossible for to have hope
  before 9 days ago i forgot my love my daughter my canon camera under my seat in milano airport and i didnt know it was gone until i got on the train which was on its way to vienna oh god i cried and cried till a moment ago i was crying i dont know what to do who should i contact if you're sayin that they send ig to the originated place that mean my camera went to kiev cause my flight was from Ukraine kiev to italy milano . . . i went to the uk int airlines they told me u should contact milano airport and i actually did send them an email but no answer till today my mom saw me in this chaos situation so she said we will go to itlay again which is 12 hours by train and too expensive by plane but dad said who will guarantee that u will find it there so i just. . . i just dont even know what to do anymore if anyone have some kinda of info please tell me
  Roisin Magill says:
  Last week I left my iPad on my seat on a SunWing flight to Cuba. Realized when I was half way to hotel. It was not easy in Cuba but I went on line that night to track the device. The last location showed as Varadero airport. The hotel tried to phone "Lost and Found" at Varadero but there was no reply. We tried for two days (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). I advised the SunWing representative as soon as I saw him. He kindly asked his friend who works at the Airport to check with "Lost and Found". He said nothing was found on the plane and it was possible that the iPad was returned to Canada as the planes are not cleaned in Cuba but on Canadian soil. On the return flight, I asked the cabin crew told me that the planes are cleaned in Varadero and they have to lock their personal items away as things do get stolen. I don't know where to check from here. I am very surprised in this day and age of high security that "found" electronic devices are not logged by the Cabin Crew. The iPad now off line and I am trying to forget about it.
  Mary. Jennings says:
  I am glad I found this page. This is February. 2 weeks ago. Yesterday. I left my iPhone 7 Plus. On delta airlines. I was on my way home. In car. From airport. And realized. I left phone. It was only 1 year old when I got home. I called airlines. The man. Told me. The people who clean. Plane befor. Next flight. Do not thoroughly clean plane. Before next flight. They too busy. They only pick up papers. But not check seats. He told me to fill out paper on line I did that. I have never heard anything. Yet. I had put phone on airplane mode. So it is off line. So I cannot trace it. On my iPad. If it was not on airplane mode. I could trace where it is. But unless the person who has my phone. Is high tech. They will never be able to use it. They need my thumb print. Plus password. Also. I called my provider. If they try to hook up. With a provider. Not possible. So it would be nice if they would turn it in. To airlines. I have not bought another phone yet. Someone lent me a phone. For now. Flip top. Wow. I have not used one of those for years.
  nelleth says:
  I left my very expensive glasses somewhere in the Dubai airport but it's been two weeks do you think they will still have them ?
  Luckily, I haven't ever left anything of great value on a plane. But the number of books I've forgotten in the seat back pocket could probably start a small library!
  I left my iphone on a Virgin Australia flight from Melbourne to the Gold Coast. Realised as soon as I deplaned and went straight to the customer service desk to report it but they told me to report it to Lost & Found at the baggage claim area. I went down there and gave a description of the phone cover, my email and I left them with a friends mobile number to call if they found it. I got a call about 5 hours later saying they found it and I could pick it up from the same desk before my flight home in 4 days time which was amazing. Could not fault Australian Airlines