American Airlines has announced support for Apple’s Share Item Location feature, making tracking and recovering lost luggage equipped with an AirTag easier. As the busiest airline in the United States, having transported 226,405,000 passengers worldwide last year, this move could significantly improve the passenger experience when dealing with misplaced bags.
How AirTag location sharing works
Apple introduced the Share Item Location feature in December last year as part of the iOS 18.2 update. This feature allows you to create a shareable link within the Find My app on iPhones, iPads, or Macs. The link provides access to an interactive map that shows the real-time or last known location of a missing item.
Once your lost luggage is found, the link can be deactivated, and you can turn off location sharing at any time. For added security, shared links automatically expire after seven days.
American Airlines simplifies lost baggage claims
American Airlines is integrating this technology into its lost baggage process to provide a smoother experience for travellers. “We’ve introduced the ability for customers to easily and securely share the location of their AirTag or Find My network accessory directly with the airline,” an American Airlines spokesperson told View from the Wing’s Gary Leff.
If your luggage is delayed on a trip that includes a segment to or from a U.S. airport, you can now use this feature when filing a baggage claim. Scan the QR code at the baggage office to start the process. Once the airline has the AirTag location data, it can work more efficiently to locate and return your bag.
Other airlines adopting the technology
American Airlines is not the first to integrate Apple’s Share Item Location feature into its lost luggage procedures. Airlines such as United, Delta, and Air Canada adopted it soon after its release, while Lufthansa Group and Virgin Atlantic announced their support earlier this month.
With more airlines embracing this feature, you now have greater control over tracking your belongings while travelling. This innovation could mean fewer lost bags and faster recoveries, bringing millions of passengers worldwide peace of mind.
