Apple is adding a new feature to its AirTags with iOS 18.2, and that’s the ability to temporarily share an AirTag’s location with a trusted person, which will soon include Airlines. Making it even more useful to throw an AirTag into your checked luggage.
According to Apple, 15 airlines will be able to offer the feature in the “coming months”. This includes Delta, United Airlines, Air Canada, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, Aer Lingus, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Iberia, SWISS, Turkish Airlines and Vueling. With even more airlines coming “over time”.
United Airlines has announced that they are aiming to implement the feature systemwide in “early 2025”.
This feature will let airlines find missing baggage, much faster
While many travelers, including myself, already have an AirTag in our checked luggage so we can find it easily, airlines will be able to integrate it into the customer service process. This is going to make it easier for an airline to help find lost bags with an AirTag attached.
This feature is going to be available in iOS 18.2 or later, as well as macOS 15.2 on Mac or later. Those users can generate a “Share Item Location” in the Find My app. Whoever they share the link with can view a website with the location of the item on a map. The website automatically updates, too.
If you’re worried about privacy, Apple has that covered, too. Apple says that they worked directly with airlines to put systems in place to “privately and securely” accept the “Share Item Location” links. Each link will have limited access for a “small number of people” and recipients are also required to “authenticate” themselves to view the link.
This is a pretty big deal for AirTag users, especially with how often Airlines tend to lose luggage and seemingly have no idea where it might be.