Apple has introduced a useful new feature called “Share Item Location” in iOS 18.2, which is currently available in beta. This tool helps users quickly and securely share the location of their misplaced items, such as AirTags or other Find My network accessories, with third parties. Whether you’ve lost your luggage at the airport or misplaced something while traveling, this new feature makes it easier to get it back.
How Share Item Location Works
With Share Item Location, iPhone, iPad, and Mac users can share the real-time location of their lost items. If you have an AirTag or any Find My-compatible accessory attached to an item, you can generate a secure link in the Find My app. You can then send this link to others—like an airline, a customer service representative, or even a friend—who can track the item’s location.
When someone opens the shared link, they’ll see an interactive map showing the current location of your lost item. The map automatically updates when the item moves, and it includes a timestamp to show the most recent update.
Privacy and Security at the Core
Apple takes privacy and security very seriously with this feature. The location data is end-to-end encrypted, ensuring that no one—except the item’s owner and authorized recipients—can view the location. In addition, the shared location will be disabled as soon as the item is recovered, or the owner can stop sharing the link at any time. The link will also automatically expire after seven days, ensuring that the data is not shared indefinitely.
Share Item Location Coming to Airlines
One of the most exciting aspects of this new feature is its potential to help travelers. In the coming months, more than 15 major airlines worldwide will begin using Share Item Location to help locate and recover misplaced luggage. Airlines including Delta, United, British Airways, Lufthansa, Qantas, and others will soon allow passengers to share their AirTag or Find My location link with their customer service teams.
This feature will be particularly helpful when traveling, as it will allow airlines to track the location of delayed or lost luggage more efficiently. Instead of relying solely on manual processes, airlines can use the shared location link to quickly find out where your bag is, reducing the stress of waiting and improving customer service.
How Airlines Are Preparing for Share Item Location
Apple has worked directly with airlines to ensure that the process of accepting Share Item Location is secure and seamless. For example, United Airlines is already preparing to use this feature in select airports, with plans to expand it systemwide by 2025. Delta Air Lines and British Airways are also working closely with Apple to integrate this tool into their baggage recovery systems.
The process for sharing the location will be highly secure. Only a small number of authorized people, such as customer service representatives, will be able to access the shared link. Recipients will need to authenticate their identity either through their Apple account or via an email address provided by the airline.
Why This Matters for Travelers
Travelers who use AirTags to track their bags will have an easier time finding their belongings if they go missing. With airlines now able to receive Share Item Location links, passengers can directly share the location of their lost luggage with airline staff. This helps streamline the process, giving travelers peace of mind and potentially reducing the time it takes to reunite them with their lost items.
The Role of SITA in Implementing Share Item Location
In addition to the airlines, SITA, a leader in air transport technology, is also working with Apple to implement Share Item Location into its baggage management system. SITA’s WorldTracer system, used by over 500 airlines, will soon support this new feature, further expanding its reach and impact across the global aviation industry.
This collaboration with SITA ensures that even more airlines can adopt Share Item Location quickly, improving efficiency in baggage tracking and helping passengers worldwide.
The Power of the Find My Network
The Find My network is a vast crowdsourced network of over one billion Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs. When an item with an AirTag or Find My-compatible device is lost, the Find My network uses Bluetooth technology to detect nearby Apple devices and send an anonymous, encrypted location update back to the owner. This makes it easier for travelers to track items in busy, crowded locations like airports, without relying solely on traditional tracking methods.
The Find My network is built on privacy, ensuring that no one, not even Apple, can see your device’s location unless you choose to share it. This means that your data is always protected, even when sharing the location of your lost item with third parties.
Conclusion: A Game-Changer for Travelers and Apple Users
Apple’s Share Item Location is a much-needed feature for travelers and anyone who relies on AirTags and Find My to keep track of their belongings. Whether you’ve lost a suitcase at the airport or misplaced an important item while traveling, this feature can help you recover it quickly and securely. As more airlines and services begin supporting Share Item Location, it will only get easier to track and recover lost items in a safe and efficient manner.
As Apple continues to innovate, the Find My network and its new features like Share Item Location will undoubtedly offer even more ways to keep users’ belongings safe and secure, especially while traveling. Stay tuned for updates as this feature rolls out to more users and industries in the coming months.
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