New Apple feature aims to reunite travelers with misplaced bags faster

Nothing ruins a vacation like arriving at your destination and discovering your luggage is MIA. A new feature from Apple aims to allow AirTag users to share location information with airlines to help them reunite with lost bags faster.

As part of iOS 18.2, travelers can place an AirTag device into their checked bag and use Apple’s Find My network to securely share the location with the airline via a secured link if their suitcase never materializes at baggage claim, Apple said in a press release.

“Find My is an essential tool for users around the world to keep track of and find their belongings,” Eddy Cue, Apple’s SVP of services, said in the release. “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.”

The update comes as airlines noted an uptick in travelers attempting to use the AirTags to keep track of their items. Using the “Share Item Location” feature, travelers will be able to view their luggage’s location update in real time, with the location share disabling as soon as they are reunited with their items.

“While more than 99% of checked items make it to their destination as planned, we know how stressful it can be for customers when they don’t,” Erik Snell, Delta Air Lines’ SVP of airport customer service, cargo operations, ground support equipment, and global clean, said in the Apple press release. “It will provide our team with extra visibility to reunite those items with their owners.

This feature, available now as part of a public beta of iOS 18.2, will roll out in select airports in early 2025 before expanding globally over time, according to Apple.