Singapore Airlines preps AirTag luggage tracking
Another airline is embracing Apple’s high-tech trackers.
By David Flynn, January 13 2025
Singapore Airlines is set to join Star Alliance partners Air Canada, Air New Zealand and United Airlines in helping passengers find lost or misplaced bags with the help of Apple AirTags.
The keychain-sized AirTags have become a must-have accessory for many travellers since their debut in 2021 – and an upgraded AirTag 2 is tipped to launch in the middle of this year.
A spokesperson for Singapore Airlines tells Executive Traveller the new tech would allow “customers with an Apple AirTag or Find My app-compatible device in their checked baggage to securely share the location of the tag or device.”
“This could potentially assist in locating and returning the checked baggage to our customers more efficiently.”
However, the airline declined to share a timeline for the rollout, saying only that it “plans to offer this option to customers in due course.”
AirTag locations can easily shared on a short-term basis with selected airlines.
An increasing number of airlines are integrating the ability to share the location of an AirTag into their app or website.
For example, within the Air New Zealand and United Airlines apps, travellers can share a live ‘location link’ for any AirTag when reporting a delayed bag; Air Canada has this built into its website.
According to Apple, airline access to each link “will be limited to a small number of people, and recipients will be required to authenticate in order to view the link through either their Apple Account or partner email address.”
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.
On Apple devices 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 missing item’s last known location.
United has built AirTag support into the bag tracking and reporting of its mobile app.
The shared location is disabled as soon as the passenger is reunited with their bag, with the link automatically expiring after seven days.
As United Airlines explains,“authorised United customer service agents will receive the Share Item Location link and be able to view the location of the item on an interactive map.”
“The map will automatically update when a new location is available and show a timestamp of the most recent update.”
“United will use the shared location to more quickly find delayed bags and reunite them with customers.”
Other leading airlines working with Apple on enhanced AirTag luggage tracking include British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Turkish Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.
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