Apple's New iPhone Feature to Help Find Lost Luggage with Ease

In a bid to redefine the way we locate lost items, Apple has introduced an innovative feature in its Find My Network. The new capability, known as Share Item Location, promises to help users quickly locate and recover lost belongings—particularly useful for travelers who misplace luggage at bustling airports. Available in the public beta of iOS 18.2, this feature is set to roll out to iPhone Xs and later models worldwide as a free update.

Seamless Location Sharing for Quick Retrieval

With Share Item Location, Apple aims to make the dreaded experience of lost luggage a thing of the past. The feature allows users to share the exact location of their AirTag or Find My Network accessory with others, including airline personnel. Through the Find My app on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, users can send a location link to airline staff or trusted individuals. Once the link is shared, the recipient can view the item’s location on a map that updates in real-time as the item moves.

This seamless experience also comes with built-in privacy and flexibility. The shared location stops being visible as soon as the user retrieves their item, or it automatically expires after seven days. Users can halt location sharing at any time with just a tap.

Boosting Global Airline Support

In an unprecedented move, more than 15 major airlines—including giants like Aer Lingus, Air Canada, British Airways, and Delta Air Lines—are set to integrate Share Item Location into their systems in the coming months. This partnership is expected to revolutionize the way lost or delayed luggage is tracked and returned to passengers. And that’s not all; SITA, a leading provider of air travel technology, will incorporate Apple’s luggage tracking capabilities into WorldTracer—a system currently used by over 500 airlines and airport ground staff across 2,800 airports worldwide. This step will vastly improve baggage handling and ensure fewer cases of mishandled luggage.

The Power Behind Find My Network

The backbone of Share Item Location is Apple’s Find My Network, a global community of over a billion Apple devices. Using Bluetooth technology, these devices silently connect to one another, helping users pinpoint lost items without compromising privacy. When an Apple device identifies a lost item, it sends a secure location signal to the owner—information that remains invisible to Apple and all third parties.

A New Standard in Air Travel

With Apple’s Share Item Location, iPhone users now have a powerful new tool to ensure their bags never go missing for long. By collaborating with top airlines and leveraging the Find My Network, Apple is setting a new standard for travel convenience and security, turning the possibility of lost luggage into just a temporary inconvenience.