General PSA for people who lose their phone at Airports

limegorilla · April 9, 2019

So I was flying back home from London Gatwick last month - everything was fine. My flight was very early in the morning so I had stayed the night. I washed up in the (suprisingly clean) bathrooms. And I left my phone there.

It didn't click for about five minites - but that was enough. Luckily I could dash off leaving mum with the luggage. I followed the signs to the Lost & Found posted throught the airport - just to find that they were closed. To be honest I was in full panic mode. All was not lost though! I had my laptop. I'll just use find my iPhone!

But it was off.

Turns out they are given in to the left luggage company when the Lost & Found isn't open (Opening hours were something like 10:00 - 16:00) and it is company policy to turn off phones when they are handed in. (which thank god mine was) Why I don't know becuase it would have saved me about 20 minites of panic. Eventuaally I found a manager who knew what they were saying (several didn't even know) and was reunited with my phone. So - if you do loose your phone and it is turned off, don't worry! It's probably fine. Check your left luggage.

Dedayog · April 9, 2019

Just now, limegorilla said:

So I was flying back home from London Gatwick last month - everything was fine. My flight was very early in the morning so I had stayed the night. I washed up in the (suprisingly clean) bathrooms. And I left my phone there.

It didn't click for about five minites - but that was enough. Luckily I could dash off leaving mum with the luggage. I followed the signs to the Lost & Found posted throught the airport - just to find that they were closed. To be honest I was in full panic mode. All was not lost though! I had my laptop. I'll just use find my iPhone!

But it was off.

Turns out they are given in to the left luggage company when the Lost & Found isn't open (Opening hours were something like 10:00 - 16:00) and it is company policy to turn off phones when they are handed in. (which thank god mine was) Why I don't know becuase it would have saved me about 20 minites of panic. Eventuaally I found a manager who knew what they were saying (several didn't even know) and was reunited with my phone. So - if you do loose your phone and it is turned off, don't worry! It's probably fine. Check your left luggage.

So you use the restroom with phone in hand or placed on bathroom surfaces? That's just nasty.

Maybe keep it in your pocket more, obsessions are bad.

Btw, you got lucky. I can easily see someone just keeping your phone and trying to get into it later.

paddy-stone · April 9, 2019

I always pocket my phone, front pocket also, just in case... and check my pocket before leaving a restroom to make sure it didn't fall out. Actually I do this all the time, checking my pockets I mean

You were incredibly lucky that it got handed in. I think that phones should also have a feature where you can only turn it off by fingerprint or passcode to prevent them being tuned off by thieves or chancers (people that found them, but didn't hand in). Glad you got it back.

limegorilla · April 9, 2019

1 hour ago, jstudrawa said:

So you use the restroom with phone in hand or placed on bathroom surfaces? That's just nasty.

Maybe keep it in your pocket more, obsessions are bad.

Btw, you got lucky. I can easily see someone just keeping your phone and trying to get into it later.

No I was changing so had to take it out of my pocket. I'm not addicted lol

55 minutes ago, paddy-stone said:

I always pocket my phone, front pocket also, just in case... and check my pocket before leaving a restroom to make sure it didn't fall out. Actually I do this all the time, checking my pockets I mean

You were incredibly lucky that it got handed in. I think that phones should also have a feature where you can only turn it off by fingerprint or passcode to prevent them being tuned off by thieves or chancers (people that found them, but didn't hand in). Glad you got it back.

Normally I would but I was so tired it just slipped my mind. And I agree - some kind of protection for this should be a thing. Especially on Android where it's quite simple to just reflash the phone and move on.