Apple Feature Will Let You Share Bag Location with Airlines
Many times, while traveling, we lose our bag in a hurry, forget our luggage on a train or bus, or even have it stolen. Very few people expect to recover their belongings in such situations. But now, you don’t need to worry. Apple has launched a new feature for travelers that will help you find your lost luggage or bag.
Apple has introduced a new feature, Share Bag Location, designed to help users locate lost items. This feature is available in the iOS 18.2 public beta and will soon roll out to iPhone Xs and newer models. The feature allows users to securely share the location of AirTags or other Find My Network accessories with third parties, including airlines, and provides an easy way for users to retrieve lost items during travel.
Share Bag Location
With the Share Bag Location feature, users can generate shareable links in the Find My app on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The person receiving the link can see where their bag or item is on the map, and the map automatically updates when the item moves. The shared location is automatically deactivated once the item is returned to the user.
Apple’s new feature aims to help airline passengers track their luggage more accurately. To support this, Apple has partnered with more than 15 major airlines, including Delta, United, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines. These airlines plan to integrate Share Bag Location into their customer service processes by the end of 2024, with more airlines expected to join over time.
The Share Bag Location feature works within Apple’s Find My Location privacy framework, ensuring end-to-end encryption and user privacy. Apple emphasizes that data security is at the core of this feature. Additionally, only authorized personnel from participating airlines can access the location information. Airline customer service representatives can use this data to track lost items and return them to their owners, making baggage management more efficient.
SITA, a leading provider of air transport communications and IT solutions, plans to integrate the shared bag location feature into its WorldTracer system, which is used by more than 500 airlines worldwide. By adopting this feature, Apple and SITA aim to make baggage management easier, providing passengers with peace of mind while checking in their luggage. With this feature, Apple hopes to reduce the stress of finding lost luggage for travelers around the world.
