Users may share a secure link with the position of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with others, and eventually, airlines, using this feature, which is now available in test with iOS 18.2.
Apple has introduced Share Item Location, an iOS feature that allows users to locate and recover misplaced items by securely sharing the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with third parties like airlines.
This feature is available in most regions worldwide as part of the public beta of iOS 18.2, which will soon be available as a free software update for iPhone Xs and later. Find My is built with privacy and safety at its core, and the shared location will be disabled as soon as a user is reunited with their item, can be stopped by the owner at any time, and will automatically expire after seven days.
Users can generate a Share Item Location link in the Find My app on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and receive a website that displays the item's location on an interactive map.
Over 15 global airlines, including Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Euro wings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, United, Virgin Atlantic, and Vueling, will begin accepting Find My item locations as part of their customer service process for locating mishandled or delayed bags.
Apple has worked with partner airlines to establish systems to securely accept Share Item Location, leveraging hundreds of thousands of Apple devices. Access to each link will be limited to a small number of people.
United Airlines is partnering with Apple to integrate Share Item Location into its baggage recovery process. The feature will enable customers to share location information securely, enhancing efficiency and customer satisfaction. United plans to accept Find My item locations in select airports initially, with the aim of introducing the service systemwide in early 2025. Delta Air Lines, which handles over 99% of checked items, is excited to support Share Item Location starting later this year. The cutting-edge solution, developed by Apple and in partnership with Delta Air Lines, will provide additional visibility for the team to reunite items with their owners. The service aims to locate items more efficiently and effectively.
IAG, the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus, and LEVEL, is incorporating Find My item locations into its lost baggage processes to provide added peace of mind for customers using AirTag in their luggage.
The solution will be integrated into WorldTracer, the baggage-tracing system used by over 500 airlines and ground handlers at over 2,800 airports worldwide.
The company is committed to testing innovative solutions and enhancing their systems to ensure checked bags reach their intended destinations quickly.
SITA, a leading provider of end-to-end baggage management solutions, has partnered with Apple to implement Share Item Location for more efficient baggage management.
The partnership will make it easier for airlines using the WorldTracer solution to use the feature, which is built on the Find My network, a crowdsourced network of over one billion Apple devices.
The feature uses Bluetooth wireless technology to detect missing items and report their approximate location back to the owner. The entire process is encrypted and anonymous, ensuring no one else can view a device's location or information.
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