Many travelers have faced the frustrating experience of arriving at their destination only to find their bags have gone elsewhere. In 2023, approximately 6.9 bags were mishandled per 1,000 passengers, with about 5% reported as lost or stolen, according to SITA, an airline IT provider.
Apple’s Solution for Lost Luggage
To address this issue, Apple is rolling out a new feature that allows users to share the location of their AirTag with third parties, including airlines. This function will be part of the “Share Item Location” feature within the Find My app. Passengers who attach an AirTag to their luggage can share a live location link with the airline, making it easier to track their bags.
Integration with Airline Services
The new service will be integrated into the customer service systems of 15 airlines, including Delta and United. David Kinzelman, United’s chief customer officer, stated that the feature will enhance their baggage recovery process, allowing customers to securely share location information with airline agents. United plans to implement this feature at select airports initially, with a goal of expanding it systemwide by early 2025.
How It Works
Users will generate a live-updating link that directs to a website displaying the AirTag’s location on an interactive Apple map. This link can be disabled at any time and will automatically expire once the user retrieves their bag or after seven days. The feature is part of the upcoming iOS 18.2 update, set to release in December.
Broad Adoption Across Airlines
In addition to direct integration with airlines, the technology will also be included in SITA’s baggage-tracing system, which services over 500 airlines and 2,800 airports worldwide. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services, emphasized the value of the Find My network and AirTag in providing location information for misplaced bags.
Partnering Airlines
The airlines initially collaborating with Apple for this feature include 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 Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United, Virgin Atlantic, and Vueling.
With this innovative feature, Apple aims to ease the stress of lost luggage for travelers, leveraging the power of technology to enhance customer service in the airline industry.
