Lost and Found Melbourne Airport (MEL)

Have you lost something at Melbourne Airport ? Melbourne Airport welcomes millions of domestic and international passengers each year and serves as a major gateway to Victoria and southern Australia. Find out how to report a missing item at Australia’s second-busiest international airport.

About Melbourne Airport

Melbourne Airport (MEL), also known as Tullamarine Airport, is located approximately 23 kilometres northwest of Melbourne’s CBD and is Australia’s second-busiest airport after Sydney. Serving over 36 million passengers annually in pre-pandemic years, it operates across four terminals: T1 (international), T2 (used by Jetstar and Tiger Air), T3 (Qantas domestic), and T4 (Virgin Australia). The international terminal handles flights from major carriers including Qantas, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, and many others, with connections to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and the Pacific.

Melbourne Airport operates around the clock and is a significant hub for both leisure and business travel. Its multi-terminal layout means that passengers moving between terminals or transiting to domestic connections can cover considerable distances increasing the chance of misplacing an item. The airport’s lost property service is managed through the Smartcarte office in the international arrivals hall, and is open seven days a week.

What Should You Do If You’ve Lost Something at Melbourne Airport ?

If you are still at the airport, go to the nearest information desk or security post. For items left at security screening, alert staff at the checkpoint immediately items at security are a priority find. For items left in the terminal after clearing customs, head to the Smartcarte office in the international arrivals hall (T1 ground floor).

If you have already left the airport or returned home, contact the lost property office during opening hours. Given Australia’s time zone, overseas travellers should account for the difference when calling.

How to Report a Lost Item at Melbourne Airport

The lost property office is managed by Smartcarte and is located on the ground floor of the international arrivals hall in Terminal 2. Contact them with your terminal number, flight details, and a detailed description of the item. For domestic terminal losses (T3 or T4), report to the relevant terminal’s information desk or airline counter as well.

You can also submit a lost item report through our platform and our team will contact and follow up with the airport on your behalf.

Items Lost at Melbourne Airport

Melbourne Airport Lost and Found Office (Smartcarte)

Address : Smartcarte Office
Ground floor, International Arrivals Hall, Terminal 2
Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)
Victoria, Australia

Opening hours : Monday to Sunday: 7:00 AM to midnight

Common Areas Where Items Are Lost at Melbourne Airport

• International security screening – laptops, tablets, and chargers
• Departure gate seating across all terminals
• Duty-free shops on the international airside concourse
• Baggage reclaim carousels in the arrivals hall
• Customs and border control queues
• Airport restaurants and cafés
• Inter-terminal shuttle buses between T1, T3, and T4
• Taxi, rideshare, and car rental areas

Tips to Report a Lost Item Efficiently

• Note which terminal you were in T1, T2, T3, or T4 – as the lost property process differs slightly
• Provide your flight number and seat number as a reference point
• If you used a domestic connection, check both the domestic terminal and the international terminal
• For electronics, note the IMEI or serial number if available
• Report as soon as possible – Melbourne handles very high passenger volumes and items move quickly

Where to Collect Your Lost Property

Found items are held at the Smartcarte office in T2 arrivals. Hours are 7:00 AM to midnight daily. If you have left Australia, the team can discuss courier or shipping options international delivery from Melbourne is readily available through Australia Post and courier services, though fees and customs paperwork apply.

Can You Recover Your Item After Leaving Australia ?

Yes, though international recovery can take time. Australian customs requirements apply to some items being exported. The Smartcarte team is experienced with international recovery requests and can advise on the best approach. For high-value or essential items, contact them as soon as you realise the item is missing.

Lost Property on Your Flight

Items left on the aircraft are handled by the operating airline. Contact your carrier’s baggage or customer services department with your booking reference and seat number. For Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia, there are dedicated baggage service counters in the respective domestic terminals.

Melbourne Airport’s lost and found service operates every day from 7:00 AM to midnight. For losses at the international terminal, the Smartcarte office in T2 arrivals is your first point of contact report early with full details for the best chance of recovery.

If you have lost one or several item(s), you will find information on how to contact a lost and found property service on this page.
 

Contact information following the loss of an item

Name : Melbourne Airport - Lost and Found Office
Address : Smartcarte Office located on the ground floor of the international arrivals hall in T2
Phone number : +61 3 9297 1805
Opening hours : Monday to sunday 7:00 am to 0:00 am
Website : https://www.melbourneairport.com.au/Passengers/Passenger-information/Facilities-services/Lost-property

List of the main items found

• Lost Personal Items : Keys, ID, Passport, Wallet, Documents, Badge, Licence (...)
• Lost Electronics : Phone, Tablet, Device charger, Camera, Laptop, Headphones (...)
• Lost Accessories : Purse, Bag, Backpack, Sunglasses, Eyeglasses, Jewellery (...)
• Lost Clothing : Gloves, Cap, Hat, Scarf, Sweater, Coat, Vest (...)

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