Apple’s latest iOS update is making it easier for travelers to keep tabs on their checked bags. With the rollout of iOS 18.2 last December, the Find My app introduced a game-changing feature: users can now create a secure, shareable link to track an AirTag or item’s location and send it directly to third parties like airlines. The update, which requires iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, or macOS 15.2 (or newer), also works with third-party tracking devices from brands like Belkin, Chipolo, VanMoof, and eufy.
This week, Virgin Atlantic and the Lufthansa Group joined United Airlines (which debuted the feature in December 2024) in adopting the tool for baggage tracking. Virgin Atlantic’s Corneel Koster, Chief Customer and Operating Officer, highlighted its benefits: “Many travelers already rely on AirTags to monitor their luggage. Now, if bags are delayed or misplaced, our teams can access this shared data to resolve issues faster, giving passengers real-time peace of mind.”
The Lufthansa Group—which includes Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings—plans to integrate AirTag links into its systems for smoother baggage recovery. Oliver Schmitt from Lufthansa’s Digital Hangar added, “This upgrade builds on recent improvements to our baggage tracking. With AirTag data, we can act even more efficiently during disruptions.”
When Apple first announced the feature in November 2024, 18 airlines signed on as partners, including Air Canada, British Airways, Delta, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines. Notably, Air France—part of the Air France-KLM group—is absent from the list, though KLM itself supports the feature.
Privacy remains a priority: shared location links expire after seven days, and users can revoke access at any time. Once luggage is reunited with its owner, tracking automatically stops.
Meanwhile, airlines like South Africa’s FlySafair and Lift are still weighing adoption. FlySafair’s Kirby Gordon said they’re “exploring tracking solutions,” while Lift confirmed they allow AirTag check-ins but have no immediate plans to integrate Apple’s feature.
AirTag 2 Rumors Heat Up
Four years after its debut, Apple’s AirTag may soon get a hardware refresh. Industry insiders, including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, hint at a mid-2025 launch for “AirTag 2” (codenamed B589). Upgrades could include extended tracking range (up to 90 meters), a new ultra-wideband chip, and enhanced privacy safeguards. The original AirTag, released in 2021, has seen only software updates so far—making this potential redesign long overdue for frequent flyers.
