From what I have seen at the gate, on AA if something of value is found from the inbound flight (cell phone, ipod, blackberry, etc.) the item is given to the GA with the seat number it was found in. GA will look up on PIL and attempt to contact customer with information from FF profile. If paxs was traveling in F/B and/or elite, the GA seem to make an extra attempt to call paxs on cell before they might leave the airport.

Once flying in F we were forced to deplane the a/c before leaving the gate due to mechnical problems. I had left my book on the plane. Once we were taken to replacement a/c (same type so paxs retained same seats) a GA from the previous gate (a/c) came onboard to delivery my left behind book. On whole, I think (at least AA) ground staff do try to reunite paxs with lost items.