Apple’s New ‘Share Item Location’ Feature to Help Travelers Track Lost Items with Airlines
Apple has introduced an innovative feature, Share Item Location, now available in beta with iOS 18.2, which enables users to share the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory securely with third parties, including airlines. This feature is set to assist users in locating misplaced items, especially in cases of delayed or lost baggage during travel.
Effortless Item Tracking with Privacy-First Design
The new Share Item Location feature allows iOS users to share a secure link showing the location of an AirTag or Find My accessory with trusted recipients. The recipient can view the item’s location on an interactive map, which updates in real-time. Privacy remains central to this feature, with shared locations automatically disabled once the item is recovered, or within seven days if not canceled by the owner.
“Find My is an essential tool for users worldwide“, said Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services. “With Share Item Location, we’re excited to give users a new way to share this information directly with third parties like airlines, while protecting their privacy”.
Generating a Share Link Through Find My
Users can generate a secure Share Item Location link from the Find My app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Once shared, recipients, including airlines, can track the item on a website that displays an updated location and timestamp. The Share Item Location beta is available in most regions worldwide and will soon be available as a free update for iPhone Xs and newer models.
Airline Integration and Global Partnerships
Apple has partnered with over 15 airlines, including Delta Air Lines, British Airways, and Lufthansa, to incorporate Share Item Location into their baggage recovery systems. Airlines will use this tool to help reunite passengers with their belongings, enhancing the customer service experience and reducing the stress of lost baggage.
“We’ve worked closely with Apple to incorporate Share Item Location”, said David Kinzelman, United’s Chief Customer Officer. “This feature will allow customers to safely and securely share location data with our agents, giving them peace of mind and making our team more efficient”.
Delta Air Lines’ Senior Vice President, Erik Snell, added, “This cutting-edge solution will give our team extra visibility to reunite items with owners, making the baggage recovery process smoother and more effective”.
Also read: iOS 18.2 : Expect Battery Intelligence, AI-Powered Notes, and Enhanced Siri
Expanded Baggage Tracking Solutions with SITA’s WorldTracer
SITA, a leading provider in air transport technology, has also collaborated with Apple to integrate Share Item Location into WorldTracer, the global baggage-tracing system used by over 500 airlines and ground handlers worldwide. Nicole Hogg, SITA’s Director of Baggage, noted, “This collaboration with Apple will make it easy for airlines to implement Share Item Location for more efficient baggage management”.
With passenger traffic expected to double by 2040, this partnership is anticipated to provide an invaluable tool for enhancing baggage tracking and offering peace of mind to travelers.
Built on Apple’s Secure Find My Network
Share Item Location utilizes the Find My network, a vast, encrypted, crowdsourced system that uses Bluetooth technology across Apple devices to locate missing items. This technology, combined with end-to-end encryption, ensures that no one, not even Apple, can view a user’s item location or data.
As Share Item Location is integrated into airline operations worldwide, Apple’s latest innovation promises a safer, more efficient way to track and recover lost items, enhancing both user experience and airline efficiency.
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