Picking someone up at the airport is one of those quiet friendship tests — right up there with helping them move. It sounds simple, but it rarely is.
So when one of my best friends flew in from San Diego for a work trip, I didn’t hesitate. I offered to pick her up, even though my last airport experience (a TSA nightmare just weeks earlier) had me swearing them off for a while, especially with the TSA wait times.
Turns out, I ended up having plenty of time to hang out with her, standing at baggage claim watching suitcase after suitcase circle past us. Frankly, I didn’t even know what I was looking for except “It’s black and has a pink ribbon attached to it.” If only she had put a key finder in her luggage. But as the crowd thinned and the carousel slowed, and eventually stopped, my heart sank.
Her bag never showed up.
At first, we did what everyone does in that moment: looked around, waited a little longer, and hoped it would magically appear. I remember saying, “Maybe the belt will start up again?” But once it became clear it wasn’t coming, we hit that familiar mix of confusion and low-level panic.
What are you actually supposed to do next? Instead of guessing, I pulled out my phone and asked ChatGPT.
Here’s exactly what it told me to do — and what actually helped.
Step 1: Report it immediately (don’t leave the airport)
The first thing ChatGPT told me was the most important: don’t leave the airport without reporting the missing bag.
So, we went straight to the airline’s baggage service desk. They had us file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR), which officially logs the bag as missing. This step mattered more than I expected; without that report, there’s basically no claim.
ChatGPT win: This step was spot-on. The airline agent already had a system in place and could start tracking the bag immediately.
Step 2: Get a claim number
ChatGPT emphasized getting a reference or claim number — and not losing it. We ended up loading the image into ChatGPT. This wasn’t necessary, but I suggested it in case we were overlooking anything. It was a good way to save it for later.
We were given a tracking number tied to her case, which let us check the status online and follow updates.
ChatGPT win: This made everything easier later. Every conversation with the airline started with that number.
Step 3: Ask about delivery (don’t go back to the airport)
This was one of the most helpful tips. I was not going to take my friend back to the airport, and it was too far from her hotel in the city, plus, she was strapped for time. ChatGPT told us that if the airline finds your bag, they’ll usually deliver it to you — you don’t have to return to the airport.
We confirmed this at the desk, and they took down her temporary address.
ChatGPT win: Huge relief. No extra trip, no guessing. Just wait and track.
Step 4: Know what you can buy (and get reimbursed)
This all happened on a Thursday evening, and my friend had meetings the following day with nothing to wear! So, this particular step was something neither of us would have thought of right away.
ChatGPT told me to ask about reimbursement for essentials — things like toiletries, basic clothing and anything you need while your bag is missing.
The airline confirmed it: Yes, you can buy what you need — just keep the receipts.
ChatGPT win: This made the situation way less stressful. Instead of trying to “make do,” she could just replace what she needed temporarily. With a “trust me,” we headed to Target (my go-to for just about anything).
Step 5: Keep expectations realistic
ChatGPT also gave a bit of grounding advice: Most lost bags aren’t actually lost — they’re delayed.
That turned out to be true. When I checked in with her this morning (yes, this story is happening in real time!), the system updated within hours, showing the bag had been routed incorrectly and was already on its way.
What ChatGPT got right (and where it didn’t matter)
What surprised me most wasn’t that ChatGPT had the answers — it was how quickly it gave us a clear plan. I have been in this situation before on a family vacation, and I panicked. Having a grounding support (even if AI) in the moment when we didn’t know what to do first, helped remove the hesitation.
That said, it didn’t replace anything. We still had to talk to the airline, we still had to file the report, we still had to follow up, and I still got home at 2 a.m. after this nonsense.
But instead of feeling lost, we knew exactly what steps to take.
The takeaway
AI didn’t magically find the missing luggage (don't I wish!). But it did the next best thing by telling us exactly what to do next. I was stressed out because it was getting late, but ChatGPT really helped in that moment. For me, that was the biggest difference between standing around hoping things work out and actually taking action.
Leaning on AI feels like the adult version of "calling my mom" when I don't know what to do.
More from Tom's Guide
- I asked ChatGPT what to do when I missed my flight because of a long TSA line — here’s how it helped me
- Hate writing AI prompts? I tested ways to make it easier — here’s what actually worked
- I tested the 'Creative Intelligence' of ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini — here's the only one that actually feels human
