SEATAC, Wash. — If you’re one of the more than 7 million travelers flying this holiday season, you might be able to breathe a little easier at baggage claim with some airlines are introducing new features that allow both you and the airline to track your luggage in real time using Apple AirTags.
AirTags, already popular with travelers, are now being integrated into Delta and United Airlines systems. The feature works through Apple’s “Find My” app on iPhones.
Travelers drop an AirTag into their luggage and share a unique link generated by the app with the airline. This allows the airline to track the bag’s location in real time, potentially eliminating the stress of wondering where your luggage might be.
How It Works:
- Open the “Find My” app and select your AirTag.
- Scroll to the “Lost Mode” section and choose “Share Item Location.”
- That generates a link that can be copied and pasted into the airline’s app or shared directly via text, AirDrop, or email with a customer service agent.
For passengers like Kelly McGinty, who already uses AirTags, this new feature is a welcome convenience.
"That would be very nice because then I wouldn't have to bump between my Find My app and Delta app," she said.
For others, like Rachel Hart, this innovation could be a game changer.
"I've had my baggage lost before and had to wait three days for it to show up," Hart said. "This could save everyone such a headache."
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 6.4 out of every 1,000 bags were mishandled by U.S. air carriers in 2022. That number dropped to 5.8 in 2023, but for travelers who’ve experienced the frustration of waiting for their bags, even a small improvement can make a big difference.
Passengers who’ve used AirTags independently credit the technology for preventing travel nightmares. McGinty recalled a time when she realized her luggage was left in Florida while she had already arrived home in Wisconsin.
“They weren’t sure where my bag was at the time and I could tell them it’s still in Orlando because it has an Airtag on it," she said.
While Delta and United are embracing the technology, other airlines like Alaska Airlines told King 5 they have no plans to institute anything similar.