Philadelphia Airport Launches New Lost and Found System

The airport is using a digital platform to help travelers recover misplaced items through online reporting.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Air Travel

Philadelphia Airport Launches New Lost and Found System

Live Poll

Do you trust that new digital systems improve the chances of recovering your lost airport items?

Philadelphia International Airport has launched the Chargerback inventory management system to improve how lost belongings are tracked and recovered. Travelers can now report missing items via an online form or QR code, receiving notifications if their property is matched.

Why it matters

This digital upgrade aims to increase the efficiency of lost-item recovery for passengers passing through the airport. It offers travelers more convenient options, including direct shipping or in-person pickup for their recovered belongings.

Miscellaneous objects currently account for 15% of all reported lost belongings. The new system allows for both item shipping and local pickup options to facilitate return.

The players

Philadelphia International Airport

This is a major aviation hub serving the Philadelphia region that handles significant daily passenger traffic.

Chargerback

This inventory management platform provides specialized technology designed to streamline the recovery of lost items.

Michael McLaughlin

He co-founded the Chargerback platform in 2010 to help organizations track and return lost property.

Brian Colodny

He is a co-founder of the Chargerback platform and helped establish the company's operational model.

The details

Passengers can access the new portal to submit reports, while airport staff utilize a centralized intake form to manage incoming inventory. TSA remains responsible for items lost at security checkpoints, and individual airlines continue to handle belongings left on aircraft.

The Chargerback platform was originally founded in 2010.
The new lost and found system launched at Philadelphia International Airport on October 29, 2026.

Travel Outlook

The adoption of the Chargerback inventory management platform marks a wider shift toward digital automation in modern airport operations. Many transit hubs are moving away from manual logs to centralized software to handle the increasing volume of traveler-misplaced items.

Travelers who misplace items should use the new online form or scan the posted QR codes to initiate a search immediately. If your item is located, you can choose between scheduling a pickup or requesting that the airport ship the property to your location.

The takeaway

Utilizing digital tracking systems can significantly reduce the time and effort required to retrieve lost items during travel. Always check with your specific airline first if you believe an item was left on the plane rather than in the general terminal.