Air New Zealand launches luggage tracking via Apple’s Find My network

Policy

Claudia Batten Independent Non-Executive Director (Appointed 28 October 2021) | Air New Zealand

By Sky Industry News

Dec 19, 2024

Air New Zealand has introduced a new feature allowing travelers to share the location of their luggage using Apple's Find My network. This development is aimed at improving baggage recovery, especially during the busy holiday travel period.

Travelers can now place an AirTag or other Find My accessory in their bags and use the Find My app to generate a live location link. This link can be shared with Air New Zealand's customer service team if luggage is delayed or mishandled, enabling both parties to track the bag.

The airline's Chief Digital Officer, Nikhil Ravishankar, stated, "In September 2023, we launched our own baggage tracking feature...now Apple's Share Item Location feature takes it to the next level." He highlighted that this feature offers added reassurance by providing a comprehensive view of where luggage is located when combined with data from the airline's systems.

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Passengers can easily generate a location link from their Apple devices and submit it through the Air NZ app under "Delayed or Damaged Bags." The information is then securely shared with the airline's Baggage Tracing team. A dedicated webpage displays an interactive map showing the AirTag's location and updates automatically with any changes.

Air New Zealand worked closely with Apple to ensure secure handling of customer data. Location sharing ends once passengers are reunited with their bags or can be stopped by customers at any time. It also expires automatically after seven days for privacy reasons.

The Share Item Location feature relies on Apple's Find My network, which consists of over one billion devices that use Bluetooth technology to detect missing items and report locations back to owners. The process is end-to-end encrypted and anonymous.

This new capability is available now for customers worldwide who meet specific device requirements: iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, or macOS 15.2 or later versions.