Not much comfort to the OP, but my experience (less than a couple of months ago) at IAD was much better. Left my iPad in the aircraft seat pocket on inbound flight, and didn't realise until I got to my hotel. Called (presumably same number as OP), left voice mail explaining, and they got straight back to me next day. Amazingly, the agent claimed they had 4 iPads, not in general, but all left on my specific flight! At least one matched the description of my iPad (same colour case), but they refused to confirm by typing in my unlock code. I was less than 30 minutes drive away, so decided to take a gamble and go back to the airport. Went to ticket desk, they went and got the most likely candidate iPad from a back room, I typed in my unlock code and....result! Signed a receipt form, and walked out one happy customer, reunited with lost iPad.