Losing your luggage is one of the most dreadful parts of traveling — but tracking a lost bag might become easier.
Many passengers have already started to put tracking devices in their bags so they can see their location for themselves.
But airports often don’t want to know what the trackers say, or they can’t do anything with the information.
However, passengers using Apple AirTags may soon be able to give third-party access to tracking information. This would allow airports and airlines to look for lost bags in real-time.
According to reports from those who have seen the beta version, Apple’s new iOS 18.2 operating system will have a new third-party sharing option.
The new feature on the Find My app will allow the user to share the location of a lost item with “an airline or trusted person,” screenshots posted on a MacRumors forum show.
Choosing the “Share Item Location” option will generate a link that will allow someone to see the location of the item for a limited time.
Shared links will stop working when the item is returned to you or when the link-sharing date expires, the report said. The shared link will expire after one week, and the user can see how many people have visited the link.
It can also be opened on a non-Apple device, so someone without an iPhone or Mac — such as a staff member at an airline desk or call center — can help you find your lost item.
Additionally, the user can choose to “Show Contact Info” which would allow any phone or tablet to connect to the lost item and open a website with more information about it. This would let others get in touch with the owner of the problem through a phone number or email address.