More Than 15 Airlines Sign Up For Apple's Find My Bag Tracking Feature On iOS 18.2

Over a dozen global airlines - including British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines - are set to integrate Apple’s 'Find My' network into their baggage recovery procedures. A new 'Share Item Location' feature in Apple's recent iOS 18.2 update will allow users to share location information with third parties, such as airlines, to expedite tracking down mishandled baggage.

Airlines onboard with Apple's baggage tracking tech

Apple has worked directly with partner airlines to integrate its tracking technology into airline baggage systems, giving passengers and carriers an enhanced method of locating lost or delayed baggage. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services, commented,

"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."

Apple has named 18 airlines that are due to integrate Share Item Location functionality in the coming months and promises that more will follow. These airlines are:

United and Air Canada were the first airlines to officially get onboard. In United's case, their passengers are now able to share location information when reporting delayed bags through the United app - according to David Kinzelman, United’s Chief Customer Officer, this will be available at select airports before a systemwide implementation in early 2025.

Additionally, aviation IT firm SITA will integrate Share Item Location into its WorldTracer system used by over 500 airlines and ground handling companies and more than 2,800 airports globally.

How to use Share Item Location

Before you can use Share Item Location, you will need to download Apple's Find My app and also own an AirTag (a small tracking device sold by Apple) or other compatible tracking device. This needs to be placed inside or attached to your baggage and then paired with your device via the Find My app - to do this, click Add Item, then Add AirTag, before following the on-screen instructions.

The Share Item Location feature can be accessed on the Find My app and will generate a URL link that can be shared with third parties. The tracking website automatically updates when items are located and will keep a timestamp of any recent updates.

According to Apple, location information will be disabled as soon as customers receive their items. Users can stop it at any time, and it will automatically expire after seven days. Compatible devices must be iPhoneX or later and must be running on iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 or macOS 15.2 (or later updates).

Apple's Find My network utilizes Bluetooth technology in over one billion global Apple devices that essentially ping nearby AirTags to determine their location. The tech giant says that the technology is end-to-end encrypted and anonymous, which means that "no one else, not even Apple or Find My Network accessory manufacturers," can access an item's location.

Mishandled baggage has long been an operational concern for airlines, and with global air passenger traffic expected to double by 2040, they need to stay on top of it. The situation has improved dramatically in recent years (with the exception of the COVID pandemic years), primarily due to the implementation of better technology - while most airlines are keen to stress that over 99% of customers receive their baggage as planned, Share Item Location will prove a major asset during those rare cases where baggage disappears.

There have been some high-profile cases of passengers or law enforcement using AirTags to track their lost bags when the airline has done nothing about it. In one notable instance, police used AirTags to determine the location of an airline subcontractor suspected of stealing almost $16,000 worth of items out of bags from two different passengers. Even Simple Flying's Managing Editor, Tom Boon, has successfully used Apple's Find My app to track down baggage mishandled by Lufthansa this summer.