When it’s time to get on the plane, there’s a must-have accessory you might not have thought of: the Apple AirTag.
Although trackers are best known for keeping tabs on everyday items like keys, this technology can also help ensure your luggage gets to its final destination. And if your bag is lost by the airline, you can hope to find it thanks to your AirTag.
We walk you through everything you need to know about using an AirTag to track your luggage.
You probably know that many large lithium or lithium-ion batteries don’t come with checked baggage. The reason for this is the safety problem posed by their overheating and fire in the baggage compartment of an aircraft.
The FAA has a number of requirements for items containing batteries. But there’s no need to worry about AirTags being used in your checked baggage. The coin cell battery that powers the AirTag is so small that it contains only 0.1 grams of lithium, well below the limit set by the FAA.
Placing your AirTag in luggage
You can purchase a single AirTag for $29. To save a little money, or if you want to track more than just one bag, a four-pack is $99.
If you’re using a new AirTag to track a bag, it only takes a few minutes to get started. You’ll place it near an iPhone and then go through a quick setup process.
To make it easier to locate, especially if you have multiple AirTags, you can customize its name and even choose an emoji.
It’s also easy to reuse an existing AirTag. Visit the site My Elements of the Find My app. Select the AIrTag you want to rename. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Rename element. There you can choose a new icon and a new name.
With the AirTag ready to go, you can now focus on where to place the tracker.
There are a large number of AirTag cases and holders available from Apple and a variety of other accessory manufacturers.
There are even AirTag holders that can double as a luggage tag. The only benefit of attaching the AirTag to the outside of your bag is that you might hear the tracker’s built-in speaker which can be activated from the Find My app. But then you run the risk of the AirTag tearing out of the bag during the transfer process.
A smarter place for an AirTag is inside your bag. You probably won’t hear any noise when trying to locate the bag, but you won’t have to worry about it being damaged. It is still easy to locate it, even under a pile of clothes.
When you want to track your luggage during your trip, open the Find My app and choose the option Mes articles tab. Then take the tracker in your luggage.
While your own iPhone can track the AirTag if it’s close enough, the real power of the device is in the Find My network. Made up of hundreds of millions of Apple devices, this encrypted and anonymous network can help you find the location of your AirTag and luggage, even halfway around the world.
Even at a small airport, you can probably track your baggage and even see it on the plane before takeoff.
After landing, you can access the app again and see where your baggage is. With a bit of luck, you might even see him moving around the airport as he nears baggage claim.
And in the worst-case scenario, if your bag is lost on the way to your destination, the AirTag can help you better understand where it is so you can better work with your airline.
Keep an eye on your luggage with an AirTag
Air travel is often a source of stress. But while an AirTag won’t prevent an airline from losing your luggage, it will give you some peace of mind by letting you know exactly where your bag is.
