Apple deploys a new feature designed to make it easier for passengers – and airlines – to recover lost luggage.
The new feature, called Share Item Location, is available as part of the iOS 18.2 public beta and will soon be available on iPhone X and newer models as a free software update.
The link will allow passengers to share their AirTag locations with more than 15 airlines, including Delta and United, to help both parties track mishandled or delayed bags more efficiently. More airlines will join over time, Apple noted.
Partner airlines will be able to accept item location sharing links from AirTag owners in a secure manner, Apple said.
“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 their Apple account or partner’s email address,” the tech giant said. technology.
Apple
AirTag data has given rise to security issues with bad actors using the tracking devices to stalk unsuspecting victims. Airline passengers, however, have used them to take tracking of their luggage into their own hands, amid growing frustration with the speed at which airlines misplace luggage.
In 2023, United Airlines had one of the highest rates of mismanagementaccording to a report from the US Department of Transportation. Out of 75 million bags, 551,000, or 0.73%, were mishandled.
Delta had one of the best. Of 99 million bags, 467,000, or 0.47 percent, were mishandled, the report said.
“We know that many of our customers already travel with AirTag in their checked bags, and this feature will soon make it easier for them to share location information with us securely,” David Kinzelman, United’s chief customer officer, said in a press release. . He added that the tool will initially be available at select airports, “with the aim of introducing the service system-wide in early 2025”.
Delta said the AirTag feature will give its team “additional visibility to reunite these items with their owners.”
“This cutting-edge solution, developed by Apple and in partnership with Delta Air Lines, will allow us to locate items more effectively and efficiently,” said Erik Snell, senior vice president of airport customer service for Delta Air Lines, in a press release.