Apple Expands ‘Find My’ to Include Airlines in Item Tracking and Recovery

Apple has introduced a new Find My feature, “Share Item Location,” now available in beta with iOS 18.2, that allows users to share the location of lost items with third parties through a secure link.

This feature, which enhances the ability to locate and recover misplaced items such as AirTags, will soon enable users to share the location of items with airlines, significantly easing the baggage recovery process for travelers worldwide.

The Share Item Location function enables users to create a secure link within the Find My app, available on the iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Once the link is generated, recipients can view the item’s location on an interactive map that updates with the latest available data, complete with timestamps. Apple has ensured that this shared access expires automatically after seven days or as soon as the item is recovered, and the owner can terminate the shared location at any time, protecting user privacy.

The Find My network, based on a crowdsourced network of over one billion Apple devices, leverages Bluetooth technology to anonymously detect and report the location of lost items back to their owners. This feature is part of Apple’s broader strategy to prioritize privacy, with end-to-end encryption ensuring that neither Apple nor its accessory manufacturers can access the item’s specific location.

Over the coming months, more than 15 major airlines, including Delta Air Lines, British Airways, Lufthansa, and United Airlines, will integrate the Find My Share Item Location feature into their baggage-tracking systems, providing their customer service teams with a new tool to help reunite lost baggage with passengers.

Delta, for example, has announced plans to accept Find My item locations at select airports in late 2024, with the goal of rolling out the service to all U.S. locations by early 2025. According to Delta’s Senior VP of Airport Customer Service, Erik Snell, the feature will provide an additional layer of visibility, making it easier to locate and return items quickly. United Airlines and IAG, the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, and Vueling, have similarly expressed enthusiasm for the added convenience and security the feature offers.

Beyond airlines, Apple is partnering with SITA, a leader in air transport technology, to integrate Share Item Location into WorldTracer, a global baggage-tracing system used by over 500 airlines and ground handlers at more than 2,800 airports. This partnership aims to streamline the tracking process across the industry, further enhancing baggage handling efficiency worldwide.

For users interested in early access, Share Item Location is currently available to iOS 18.2 beta participants, with a full public rollout expected soon. The feature will be compatible with iPhone Xs models and later.