Apple’s new AirTag feature is made for frequent flyers

Apple’s AirTags have already proven their worth with travellers wanting to track their luggage, especially on long international flights with a stopover – and it’s about to get even easier to track down a piece of lost luggage.

Apple is set to roll out a new feature that allows AirTag owners to temporarily share the tag’s location with “an airline or a trusted person,” which could help airport staff locate a missing piece of luggage.

The update appears in the latest beta release of Apple’s iPhone iOS 18.2 software, as reported by MacRumors.

A new “Share Item Location” option in the Find My app creates a temporary link which can be sent to anyone, not only your trusted contacts.

You'll soon be able to share a lost AirTagged item with airlines.
MacRumors

If the recipient is using an Apple device the link will open the Find My app, allowing them to see the location of the nominated AirTagged item.

On non-Apple devices, the link opens a Web page with a map showing the rising item’s last known location.

An additional Show Contact Info option lets you share your phone number and email address so the person who finds your missing item can contact you.

The link automatically expires after seven days or when the item has been returned to you.

This short-term tracking builds on the option introduced in September 2023 to continually share the location of an AirTag with up to five additional people.

Embedded with Bluetooth and linked to Apple’s vast network of devices to relay the location of the tagged item, AirTags have soared in popularity as essential travel tools, especially for luggage tracking.