Apple’s “Share Item Location” feature, launched just over a month ago, allows users to securely share the location of their lost Find My-enabled devices with their airline. United Airlines is the first to integrate this feature, enabling passengers to track their misplaced luggage directly through the United mobile app. This functionality arrived with the iOS 18.2 update, which also introduced other Apple Intelligence features. Air Canada has also announced adoption of this helpful tool.
Streamlined Luggage Recovery Process
The primary goal of this feature is to streamline the baggage recovery process. By enabling seamless sharing of location data between passengers and airline customer service, lost luggage can be located and returned more efficiently. David Kinzelman, United’s Chief Customer Officer, emphasized that Apple’s tool will significantly expedite the process of locating lost baggage.
United Airlines app showing the baggage tracking feature.
If your baggage doesn’t arrive at your destination, you can now easily file a delayed baggage report through the United app and securely share tracking data from the Find My network.
Sharing Location Data via Find My
To generate the tracking link, users can open the Find My app on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac. This link opens a webpage displaying an interactive map that shows the real-time location of the missing item, updated whenever movement is detected, complete with timestamps for location logs.
Apple Find My System interface for sharing item location.
Once the item is recovered and returned, the shared location data stops updating, and the link expires within a week. End-to-end encryption ensures that the location information remains private, accessible only to the customer and the airline.
Expanding Availability to More Airlines
Several other major airlines, including Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic, plan to integrate Apple’s Share Item Location feature in the coming months, joining over two dozen other airlines already on board.
Detailed view of the Share Item Location feature within Apple's Find My system.
Furthermore, Apple has partnered with SITA (Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautique), a global aviation technology leader, to integrate this feature into SITA’s WorldTracer baggage tracking system. This collaboration will extend the convenience of real-time baggage tracking to approximately 2,800 airports and over 500 airlines worldwide.
Conclusion
This partnership between Apple and major airlines represents a significant step forward in improving the passenger experience. By simplifying the process of tracking and recovering lost luggage, travelers can now enjoy greater peace of mind. The secure and efficient nature of Apple’s “Share Item Location” feature promises a smoother travel experience for everyone.
