Tech giant Apple has debuted a brand-new feature for iPhone owners called “Share Item Location”. This new feature was discovered in an iPhone update on Monday, so this exciting new addition is free and available to travelers that own an iPhone right now.
Available now in iOS 18.2 public beta, users are now able to “Share Item Location” under the Find My feature. While users are able to track items like iPhones, MacBooks, and AirTags, users can now share tracking data with airlines.
Why iPhone Luggage-Tracking is a Game-Changer
If you own an iPhone, you’ll want to toggle the “Share Item Location” feature on, in the event your phone, laptop, or tagged luggage goes missing during air travel.
If your luggage with your AirTag attached goes missing, you can share a handy link to an airline agent or support representative. He or she will receive the link that will reveal the item’s whereabouts in real-time.
This makes finding your luggage much easier and quicker, especially when airlines have the resources and manpower to recover lost belongings hundreds, or even thousands of miles away.
These links will not be entirely public, however. Apple will keep each link accessible to a limited number of people. Airlines must also use an Apple account or verified email address to access each link.
Currently, there are 15 airlines from around the world that will use the “Share Item Location” in the very near future. These airlines are as follows:
- United Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- British Airways
- Qantas
- Air Canada
- Air New Zealand
- Lufthansa
- Turkish Airlines
- Iberia
- Aer Lingus
- Singapore Airlines
- Eurowings
- Virgin Atlantic
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
- Swiss International Airlines
- Vueling
- Austrian Airlines
- Brussels Airlines
More airlines will start using this iPhone luggage-tracking feature over time.
Airlines Sound Off On “Share Item Location”
United Airlines Chief Customer Officer David Kinzelman expressed his thoughts in Apple’s newest press release:
“We know many of our customers are already traveling with AirTag in their checked bags, and this feature will soon make it easier for them to share location information with us safely and securely, helping our customer service agents work more efficiently and giving our customers added peace of mind.”
Kinzelman also revealed that the service will be available “systemwide” in early 2025.
International Airlines Group (IAG) Head of Innovation Annalisa Gigante also had exciting news to share regarding the update for airlines such as British Airways and Iberia:
“We’re always testing innovative solutions and enhancing our systems to ensure that checked bags reach their intended destination as quickly as possible, and we look forward to incorporating this solution into our lost baggage processes beginning later this year.”
In addition to airlines, technology companies such as SITA can also obtain a link to missing luggage and incorporate it with esteemed bag-tracking platform WorldTracer. WorldTracer is currently used by more than 2,800 airports and 500 airlines to track luggage.
