With the release of iOS 18.2, Apple has upgraded its AirTag item trackers to include a new feature designed to make it simpler to locate lost luggage. The “Share Item Location” functionality necessitates participation from airlines to operate, and this week, the largest airline in the United States has declared its backing.
American Airlines, which is third in fleet size and revenue, surpasses all other U.S. airlines in daily passenger flights.
Thanks to this, American Airlines’ adoption of Apple’s Share Item Location feature for lost luggage tracking is expected to greatly benefit travelers.
Since their launch, AirTags have been invaluable for tracking down lost luggage. However, notifying an airline about the presumed location of your misplaced luggage did not always guarantee that they could locate it efficiently.
The Share Item Location feature enables you to securely and privately share your AirTag’s location with designated personnel at participating airlines.
“Apple has collaborated closely with partner airlines to implement systems that can privately and securely accept Share Item Location, utilizing the many Apple devices already in use by airlines,” Apple states. “Access to each link will be restricted to a select group of individuals, and recipients will need to authenticate to view the link via their Apple Account or partner email address.”
American Airlines reports that less than 1% of luggage is mishandled and that most issues are resolved within a day. Nonetheless, the airline anticipates that the new AirTag feature will further minimize that duration.
If your luggage equipped with an AirTag is left behind for any reason, you can initiate a baggage claim by scanning the Share Item Location QR code at the baggage office.
To view the complete list of airlines that support Share Item Location, check out our updated list here. Additionally, you can purchase a single Apple AirTag for as low as $23.19 on Amazon, or get a four-pack for just $79.99 (regularly $99.99).
