The 5 Most Commonly Lost Items at Charles de Gaulle Airport and How to Recover Them

Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris's main air hub, handles millions of passengers each year, and with this intense traffic, the loss of personal items is a daily occurrence. According to official airport statistics, more than 120,000 items are reported lost annually. Let's discover which items are most frequently misplaced and, most importantly, how you can efficiently recover them.

Electronic Devices: The King of Lost Items

Mobile phones, tablets, and laptops occupy the first place on the list of lost items at Charles de Gaulle. The rush to pass through security controls or distraction while charging devices in waiting areas are the main causes of these losses. The good news is that these devices usually have a high recovery rate, especially when protected with tracking systems.

The recovery process for electronic devices requires special attention. Charles de Gaulle's lost and found department has a specific system for cataloging these items, including documentation of serial numbers and distinctive characteristics. If you've lost your device, it's crucial to provide as many details as possible: model, color, wallpaper, and any distinctive marks that could help in its identification.

Personal Documentation: The Most Common Headache

Passports, ID cards, boarding passes, and wallets make up the second most frequent category of lost items. The loss of these elements can be especially stressful, as they are essential for continuing your journey.

Hand Luggage and Personal Accessories

Carry-on luggage, backpacks, and bags occupy third place. Surprisingly, many travelers forget their hand luggage in restaurant areas or bathrooms. These items often contain valuable personal articles, making their quick recovery crucial.

Jewelry and Valuable Accessories

Valuable items such as watches, jewelry, and designer accessories constitute the fourth most common category. Most of these losses occur at security checkpoints, where passengers must remove these items. The airport maintains a special protocol for valuable items, storing them in a high-security area with restricted access.

To recover jewelry and valuable accessories, exhaustive identification and proof of ownership are required. Photographs of the item, purchase receipts, or detailed descriptions can significantly accelerate the verification process.

Clothing and Travel Items

Coats, scarves, hats, and other clothing items complete the top 5. These items are usually lost in waiting areas or on luggage carts. Although they may seem less valuable, their recovery is equally important for traveler comfort.

The Recovery Process with PostalFly

Regardless of the type of lost item, PostalFly offers a comprehensive service for recovery and international shipping. Our process includes:

1. Direct coordination with the lost and found department
2. Management of necessary documentation
3. Collection and packaging
4. Shipping to any destination

The advantage of using PostalFly lies in our experience and established relationships at Charles de Gaulle Airport. We know the internal procedures and can significantly expedite the recovery process.

Tips to Prevent Losses

Prevention is always the best strategy. We recommend:

• Maintaining a checklist of personal items
• Photographing valuable items before travel
• Using identification tags on all possible items
• Paying special attention at critical points such as security checkpoints