If you lose your passport at the airport, travel experts agree the single most crucial first step is to retrace your steps through the terminal before assuming the worst. A misplaced passport is often recovered quickly, and the outcome depends on how fast the issue is identified and reported.
Becky Theriault, Scandinavia travel specialist at The Luxury Holiday Company, advises that passports are often misplaced rather than permanently lost. She explained: "Passports are often misplaced rather than permanently lost, so it's worth carefully retracing your route through the airport. Common places documents are left behind include security trays, airport lounges, restaurants, shops and gate seating areas."
Many airports have dedicated lost property teams, while security staff and airline representatives may be able to help locate a passport if it has been handed in. The sooner the relevant teams are notified, the greater the chance of recovering the passport before departure.
What to do if you cannot find your passport
If retracing your steps does not work, the next port of call should be your airline. Harry Deacon, a travel expert at esim company Holafly, explained: "If you cannot recover your missing passport, you must go to the airline's check-in counter or gate desk as well as to airport security or the police."
Most airports have a substation of their respective national police on-site; for an official report for travel needs to continue, you will usually be required to obtain one from a security official or police officer.
Can you board a flight without a passport?
In short, the answer is usually no, though there are occasional exceptions. Richard Young, travel expert and owner of selfcatering.co.uk, said: "Checking in doesn't remove the requirement to have the correct physical travel document when you board. The airline can check your passport again at the gate and, if you cannot produce the document required for your destination, you will normally be refused boarding."
He added: "There are exceptions though, on a UK domestic flight, a passport is not necessarily required at all so best to check with the airline first."
How to report a lost passport
If you genuinely believe your passport is gone for good, it must be declared as lost. Alex Trimis, CEO and co-founder of Welcome Pickups, said: "Once a UK passport is reported lost, it is cancelled and cannot be used for travel, so don't rush this decision. However, it is advised to cancel a lost or stolen passport as soon as you're sure it's definitely lost to reduce the risk of anyone using your passport or identity."
You can declare a passport lost or stolen via the government website, for which you'll require a phone number. You can report it yourself, or alternatively, somebody else can do it on your behalf.
Having a copy of your passport accessible at all times, whether that's a scan or a photograph stored on your phone, could simplify things. LP Maurice, travel expert and CEO of Busbud, said: "When travelling, I always advise keeping a copy of your passport somewhere separate from the original. It can also be useful to have a secure digital copy. A copy will not replace the passport at the airport, but it can help confirm your identity if something goes wrong. Losing a passport can mean changing your plans or missing a flight, but acting quickly, speaking to the right people and having copies of your important documents can make a difficult situation much easier to manage."
