American Airlines integrates Apple’s AirTag tracking for improved baggage handling

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American Airlines integrates Apple’s AirTag tracking for improved baggage handling

Research

Zach Griff Senior reporter | The Points Guy

By Sky Industry News

Feb 20, 2025

American Airlines has announced the integration of Apple's AirTag tracking service, becoming the final major U.S. airline to adopt this technology. This new feature allows passengers to share their AirTag's location with the airline when checked bags are misplaced.

According to American Airlines, the Share Item Location feature was activated in recent days. Passengers can share their AirTag location with the airline via a QR code available in baggage service offices, provided they have at least one leg of their trip involving a U.S. airport.

The airline claims that less than 1% of bags are mishandled and most are returned to their owners within just over a day. The addition of this feature is expected to reduce the time it takes for passengers to be reunited with their lost luggage.

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The Share Item Location feature was introduced as part of iOS 18.2 and enables users to share the location of an AirTag or other Find My-enabled accessories with airlines or other parties. "When the feature was first announced last year, Apple said that it was working with more than 15 airlines on integrating this service," including Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in the U.S., as well as several international carriers such as Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.

Location sharing will automatically end once passengers are reunited with their bags but can also be stopped manually at any time. The shared link expires after seven days. The process is encrypted and anonymous, ensuring privacy for users.

American's adoption marks its entry alongside Delta and United in offering this service among major U.S. carriers. It is hoped that more airlines will adopt similar technology due to its growing popularity among travelers who use AirTags for tracking purposes.