Summary
Rule number one: don’t panic.
Though delightful in the end, we all know that traveling can be a stressful experience, especially when navigating airport procedures. From getting there on time to ensuring you’ve packed everything you need, and finally, going through security, it’s easy to get distracted. Consequently, when travelers become sidetracked, they often leave behind important items in security bins, such as keys, wallets, and even laptops.
Don’t believe that people could possibly leave behind something as critical as a computer? Just check out this photo posted by the TSA on Instagram showing all the lost laptops at airport security.
As the TSA pointed out, these laptops were left behind at Newark (EWR) checkpoints in November 2016 alone. “When a laptop is left behind, it’s recorded in the lost and found log at the airport and stored in a secure location,” the TSA explained. Moreover, the most common reason laptops are forgotten is when travelers stack bins, leaving their computers out of sight and out of mind.
Ways to Recover Your Lost Laptop at Airport Security
Call the Lost and Found Number for the Airport
According to the TSA, there are dedicated personnel at every airport ready to assist you in locating your lost items promptly. If you leave a laptop (or anything else) behind, you can access a list of lost and found phone numbers for each airport at TSA.gov, or you can reach out to the AskTSA team via Twitter or Facebook Messenger.
Leave a Number on the Bottom of Your Computer
Similar to a luggage tag for your bags, it may also be advisable to consider an ID tag for your laptop. “If you haven’t already, tape a business card or a piece of paper with your name and contact info to the bottom of your laptop,” the TSA recommended. This step allows officials to attempt to contact you through a page or phone call before you board your flight or even after you’ve departed.
Track Your Computer Using Your Phone
For those who own an Apple device, utilizing a personal GPS device is essential for tracking down lost belongings. Apple computer users can easily recover a lost laptop at airport security by ensuring that Find My Mac is installed prior to departure. To enable it, simply navigate to the Apple menu, select System Preferences, click on Security & Privacy, and go to Location Services. Turn on Location Services and then activate Find My in the app list. Should it not be visible, check System Services and click Details to enable Find My Mac. Moreover, ensure that Find My Mac is activated in your iCloud settings. In the event your laptop goes missing, you can use iCloud’s Find My Mac functionality through your phone or another computer. Just remember to track it down before it ends up in one of the annual TSA auctions for lost and confiscated items.
