Apple AirTags Can Now Help Airlines Find Your Missing Luggage Faster

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Right now, air travel feels more unpredictable than ever, with delays resulting in slim-line connections. This year, I’ve reached my destination without my checked bag on three of my four work trips.

Sure, I can sprint a mile or so through Heathrow Home Alone style to my departure gate. I’ve done this many times before (and it’s not pretty), but part of me feels like what’s the point if I manage to board drenched in sweat with the dreaded feeling that there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell my bag has also made the connection.

Unless I’m on the return leg and going directly home to a fresh pair of pajamas, perhaps I should saunter and miss boarding. At least I’ll know I’m in the same place as my belongings, and they’ll likely be on the next flight with me. On the three occasions my luggage was lost in 2024, various airlines took between 24 — 48 hours to deliver the bag. That’s an inconvenience if you’re vacationing on the beach and devastating if you need specialized gear, meeting new people for the first time, or representing the company.

Granted, I’ve never used an AirTag on my luggage before. I’ve not seen the point. Other than being able to track down someone who accidentally took the wrong bag off the conveyor belt, seeing the luggage stuck in transit wouldn’t have made a huge difference to the situation. However, Apple’s announcement about the new AirTag feature could be a game-changer.

“The Find My network and AirTag have proven to be a powerful combination for users while traveling, providing invaluable location information when bags have been misplaced or mishandled. With Share Item Location, we’re excited to give users a new way to easily share this information directly with third parties like airlines, all while protecting their privacy,” says Eddy Cue, the company’s senior vice president of services.

Photo: Apple

With Share Item Location, you can generate a link in the Find My app, which can then be shared with airlines. This link provides real-time location updates of the lost luggage on an interactive map. The location is automatically updated and includes a timestamp for the most recent update. On the note of privacy, the shared location of the item is automatically disabled once it’s recovered. You can also stop sharing at any time, and the link expires after seven days — here’s hoping you’re not waiting more than a week to be reunited with your luggage.

Apple says in the coming months, the following airlines (more to follow) will integrate this technology into their customer service protocol.

• Aer Lingus
• Air Canada
• Air New Zealand
• Austrian Airlines
• British Airways
• Brussels Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Eurowings
• Iberia
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Qantas
• Singapore Airlines
• Swiss International Air Lines
• Turkish Airlines
• United
• Virgin Atlantic
• Vueling

Apple is also working with SITA, a leading air transport technology company, to integrate Share Item Location into its WorldTracer baggage-tracing system. This is used by over 500 airlines at almost 3,000 airports worldwide.

Apple AirTags are currently on sale for Black Friday with reductions of between 29 and 34 percent. A pack of four ($69.99) is a must for families, and a single ( $19.00) is suitable for one piece of luggage. You’ll also need a lockable key chain to secure the tag to your belongings.