Travel Safety Travel Tips

This New Apple Feature Will Help You Find Lost Luggage – Best If Traveling for the Holidays

Say goodbye to lost luggage nightmares – Apple’s latest innovation is about to make your holiday travel a whole lot smoother.

Apple recently collaborated with specific airlines to eliminate flight-related stress through its solution for missing baggage retrieval. It’s no secret that AirTags have long been a staple for smart travelers who track their luggage, however, the challenge of retrieving a lost bag remains a separate issue.

*Suitcase with lost sticker on an airport baggage conveyor*

But that’s all about to change. Apple is now providing travelers unprecedented control through its innovative new feature and strategic airline collaboration which brings increased peace of mind. The tool stands as your most valuable packing option whether you travel for family gatherings or winter vacations.

So, what’s this new feature? Let’s have a look:

Apple’s new tool for tracking lost luggage

The ‘Share Item Location’ feature in iOS 18 represents a transformative addition to the Find My app which enables users to generate secure web links that display AirTag positions alongside real-time maps and timestamps. Users can generate a secure web link from the Find My app to share luggage location information with authorized parties even the ones who do not have Apple devices.

Why does this matter? Until now, you could only use AirTags to track your belongings and for personal use only. But with this new sharing capability, it now means that airlines that support the system can actually use that data to help reunite you with delayed or misrouted luggage much faster.

It’s worth noting that not all airlines are on board just yet – but for those that are, this could dramatically improve the speed and accuracy of bag recovery during travel disruptions.

How Does Apple’s New Lost Luggage Feature Actually Work?

While the airlines have yet to specify the integration methods of this system into their baggage recovery processes, the fundamental technology behind Apple’s new feature has become evident as quite brilliant.

To understand the update, it helps to first know how AirTags function:

How AirTags Track Your Stuff:

Bluetooth Beaconing: Each AirTag emits a secure Bluetooth signal.
Find My Network: Nearby Apple devices (over 2 billion worldwide) detect this signal and relay the AirTag’s location to iCloud—anonymously and securely.
Real-Time Map Updates: You can see your item’s current location in Apple’s Find My app, and even play a sound to help find it nearby (up to 30 feet indoors).

Now, here’s where the real travel magic begins:

Enter the Share Item Location Feature (iOS 18.2 and beyond):

This new feature takes luggage tracking to the next level by letting you securely share your AirTag’s location with others even if they don’t use Apple devices.

Here’s how it works:

Open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Select the AirTag attached to your luggage.
Tap “Share Item Location.”
A secure link (URL) is generated that shows:
- The current location of the AirTag on an interactive map
- A timestamp of the most recent location update
Send the link to your airline’s customer service, provided they participate in the program.

When an AirTag gets detected on Apple’s global device network the shared webpage automatically updates its location map. The airline obtains real-time tracking capabilities for your lost baggage just as you use this system.

The implementation of this feature speeds up the recovery process for lost luggage therefore decreasing the stress that comes with travel delays. Ensure your airline participates in the rollout before using this service as we will explain the participating airlines next.

How to Turn On Apple’s “Share Item Location” to Track Your Luggage

NOTE: For it to work effectively, then setting up AirTag comes first before you can enable location sharing with airlines.

And so, to activate your AirTag while sharing location information effectively follow these steps:

Step 1: Set Up Your AirTag

Make sure your device is ready:

Check Settings: Turn on Bluetooth, Location Services, and iCloud Keychain on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Power It On: Pull the tab on the AirTag to activate the battery.
Pair the Device: Hold the AirTag near your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and then Tap “Connect” when prompted.
Name Your AirTag: Choose a preset name (like “Luggage”) or create a custom one.
Finish Setup:
- Tap “Continue” to link it to your Apple ID.
- Then hit “Finish” to complete the pairing.
Add to Find My: Open the Find My app and make sure the AirTag appears in the Items tab.

Step 2: Share Your AirTag’s Location with a Link

Once your AirTag is active and visible in Find My, you’re ready to share its location:

Open the Find My app.
Tap on the Items tab and select your AirTag.
Scroll to “Lost Mode” and choose “Share Item Location.”
The app will generate a secure link (URL) that shows the AirTag’s live location and time stamp.
Tap “Share Link.”
Choose how you want to send it—via text, email, AirDrop, or any app that supports link sharing.
(Optional) Enable “Show Contact Info” if you want the recipient to see your phone number or email, in case they need to reach you.

Now that you have your setup ready, what next?

What Happens Next?

Automatic Updates: The link will update in real-time as your AirTag changes location.
Privacy Protected: The tracking link expires after 7 days, or you can manually stop sharing at any time.
Automatic Stop: Apple will stop sharing the location once your AirTag is back with you.

Who Can Use Apple’s New Share Item Location Feature?

When it rolled out it was only available to a few users but as of December 2024, this feature is now available to all users. So, if you’re using iPhone X to the latest version you can use this feature as long as you’re running Apple’s latest update, iOS 18.2.

But there’s good news:

This feature is available for free making it even better.

Here’s what you’ll need to use it:

An iPhone X or newer
A Mac with an M1 chip or later
Or a 5th-generation iPad or later

As long as you’re using one of these compatible devices, simply install the final release of iOS 18.2, and the updated Find My app will include the Share Item Location tool ready to go.

So, if you’re planning to travel this season, now might be a great time to check them out before they run out of stock.