New app feature to help recover lost or delayed luggage
Apple has launched a new feature that could help users to locate or recover lost luggage when travelling.
‘Share Item Location’ is a new iOS feature within the ‘Find My’ app that Apple says will help users locate and recover misplaced belongings by easily and securely sharing the item’s location from an iPhone, iPad or Mac.
Now available in beta with iOS 18.2, the feature will generate a link that can be shared with the location of an AirTag or a Find My network accessory. Recipients of this link will be directed to a website with the live location of the item displaying on an interactive map.
The website will automatically update when a new location is available, showing a timestamp of the most recent update. And to protect privacy and safety, the shared location will be disabled once a user is reunited with their item. It can also be stopped by the owner at any time, and will automatically expire after seven days.
Airline carriers to integrate the service
Apple says that in the coming months, 15 airline carriers – which include Air Canada, British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Virgin Atlantic — will integrate the Find My item location service as part of their customer service process for locating mishandled or delayed bags. Further airlines are to be added over time.
Share Item Location is available now in most regions worldwide as part of the public beta of iOS 18.2, and will soon be available to all users as a free software update for iPhone Xs and later.
