I have two situations to report.

First, a finding.

My mother got to the baggage claim at LAX (JFK-LAX) last year and realized her wallet was gone....figures she left it on the seat. She went upstairs and they actually let her through security and to the gate where her wallet was waiting for her with the agent. Nothing was missing. The whole deal took about 25 minutes.

A non-finding!

Another AA flight last year....my daughter and me from LGA-DFW-LAS-LAX. Lost my daughter's winter coat. I couldn't recall the last flight I saw it on. I made all the calls, did the paperwork, went to lost and found in LA...never found the coat.

Another loss and find: Avis, Columbia SC: I left my phone charger/cable in the car. Called them when I got home that night. They found the piece and put it in a drawer to mail to me. Ten days later i called to ask where it was. A woman opened the drawer and there it was. I got it Fed Ex the next day.

I think that once things get "into the system" they are probably lost for good. My mother was lucky that her wallet was still there, but the plane hadn't been cleaned yet.

Good luck.