An increasing number of airlines are beginning to integrate the Apple AirTag into their checked-in tracking systems to assist with tracing Mishandled Baggage. The recent announcement of the Lufthansa Group brings the total of airlines using the AirTag up to 18.

I wonder how many readers are right now thinking about how the small AirTag will help an airline’s passenger baggage tracking system. Of course, the process will only be of importance to you if your baggage does not arrive on the conveyor belt (I know well the feeling and the consequent thought process when one is in that situation), in the baggage arrival hall. Let’s have a look at how it works

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Apple’s AirTag

Firstly, let’s talk about what the AirTag actually is. Each round AirTag is small and lightweight. It features precision-etched polished stainless steel, and is IP67 water- and dust-resistant. A built-in speaker plays sounds to help locate AirTag, while a removable cover makes it easy for users to replace the battery. The small device (about the size of a large coin) costs $29 individually or $99 for a pack of four, according to Apple’s website. It runs on a replaceable CR2032 battery that typically lasts about a year, making it an incredibly cost-effective tracking solution.

The genius of AirTags lies in their combined use of Apple’s Find My network – hundreds of thousands of iPhones, iPads, and Macs all working together to help locate your missing luggage. AirTag taps into the vast, global Find My network and can help locate a lost item, all while keeping location data private and anonymous with end-to-end encryption.

This is both a good point and a not-so-good one. The efficacy of the AirTag depends on other Apple devices being in the vicinity – iPhones, iPads, Macs, etc. Their presence is needed for the AirTag on your lost baggage to be ‘found.’ Your tag’s signals need to be picked up and reported back to the Apple Find My Network.

What Do You Do When Your Baggage Does Not Arrive At Your Destination?

The process of reporting miscreant baggage remains pretty much the same. You will look for an official of the Airline you arrived on, or go to the ‘Lost Baggage Office.’ You will need to inform them about your checked-in baggage that failed to arrive. You will need to go through the same process of reporting the item (as you did before the advent of the AirTag), that went ‘missing.’

If your baggage contains a bit of Apple magic, the AirTag, it will help some airlines in tracing the truant checked-in luggage. Eighteen Airlines as of the time of going to press. The latest joiner is the Lufthansa Group – all five airlines of the group. The eighteen airlines have integrated AirTag into their baggage tracking or tracing systems.

Apple AirTag Sharing Location — *Sharing AirTag Location With Airline*

In the process of reporting your missing baggage, you will need to share your AirTag details with the Airline. They will then be able to for a limited time, use the data transmitted from the Apple system to locate your baggage, and if found in the baggage section of any airport in the world (this is where the presence of other live Apple devices help), they will be able to instruct relevant airlines to forward your baggage back to where you are located or wish to have the baggage sent.

For business travellers, this integration is particularly valuable. When you’re rushing between client meetings or heading to a crucial presentation, knowing exactly where your baggage is can make the difference between a successful trip and a logistical nightmare.

Here’s what makes this system particularly powerful for business travellers:

Real-Time Tracking: AirTags update their location whenever they’re within Bluetooth range of any Apple device in the Find My network. In busy airports, this means near-continuous location updates.
Precision Finding: If you have an iPhone 11 or newer, you can use Precision Finding to locate your AirTag-equipped luggage within a few feet – particularly useful in crowded baggage claim areas.

Battery Life Alerts: The Find My app will notify you when your AirTag’s battery is running low, ensuring you’re never caught off guard during important trips.

The integration with the eighteen airlines’s systems means that airline staff can now access this precise location data through their own baggage tracing systems, streamlining the ‘mishandled’ baggage recovery process. For business travellers who often carry valuable equipment or time-sensitive materials, this added layer of security is invaluable.

Security of the AirTags

Apple and Google have jointly ensured that AirTags can’t be used by stalkers who may want to track a person. If an AirTag that’s not yours is following you for a while, your phone has the ability to let you know. Both Android and iPhones have this. This is the laudable response to some efforts made by people with criminal intentions.

Mano’s Tips for Business Travellers:

Name your AirTags clearly in the Find My app (e.g., “Black Suitcase – Business Trip”)
Keep essential business documents and a change of clothes in your carry-on

Conclusion

For those managing travel expenses, this system provides an additional benefit: clear documentation of your luggage’s location history can be invaluable for insurance claims or disputed charges related to lost baggage.

The best part? This system works through the airlines’ existing digital channels, making it a seamless addition to your travel routine. Simply attach an AirTag to your luggage, and you’re ready to take advantage of this enhanced tracking capability. Welcome to modern digital baggage tracking systems!

Other Useful Information

Lost Checked-in Baggage – Read about what you need to do if your checked-in baggage does not arrive – Blog Post by Mano Chandra Dhas

Note: We’d love for you to have a seamless experience with your checked-in baggage on every single journey. However, even the best-laid plans can have flaws inflicted on them by rare inefficiencies of airports, automated baggage handling systems or other third parties. We need to keep track of further technical development with AirTag and related systems integrations.

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Photo credits: Featured Image – Fotolia. In article images: Courtesy Apple Inc.

The Apple AirTag and Airline Baggage Tracking