Apple Share Item
Apple has launched an exciting new feature called Share Item Location in iOS, aimed at assisting travelers in recovering lost luggage by enabling the sharing of the location of an AirTag or Find My-compatible accessory with third parties, including airlines.
▎Streamlined Baggage Recovery with Share Item Location
The Find My network is built on a foundation of privacy and security, ensuring that shared locations are automatically disabled once users retrieve their belongings. Additionally, owners retain control, with the ability to halt sharing at any moment, and links will expire after a week.
To utilize this feature, users can generate a Share Item Location link directly within the Find My app on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Recipients can then access an interactive map through a website that displays the item’s location in real-time, complete with timestamps indicating the last known position.
▎Airline Collaborations and Future Expansion
In the upcoming months, over 15 airlines—including prominent carriers such as Air Canada, British Airways, Delta, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines—will begin incorporating Share Item Location into their customer service operations to assist passengers in locating delayed or lost baggage.
Apple is committed to expanding its airline partnerships, collaborating closely with industry players to ensure a secure and private integration that leverages the Apple devices already in use by many airlines. Access to these shared links will be limited to a select group of authenticated personnel via Apple Accounts or verified email addresses.
Furthermore, SITA, a leader in travel technology solutions, will integrate Share Item Location into its WorldTracer system, which is utilized by over 500 airlines and ground handlers across 2,800 airports worldwide. Nicole Hogg, SITA’s Director of Baggage, noted that this partnership will significantly improve baggage-tracking capabilities and empower airlines to manage the growing volume of global passenger traffic more effectively.
▎Commitment to Privacy and Security
Share Item Location is powered by Apple’s extensive Find My network, which comprises over one billion devices. This crowdsourced system allows Bluetooth-enabled Apple devices to detect and report the approximate location of lost items. The feature guarantees end-to-end encryption and anonymity, ensuring that only the item owner can access location data.
▎Availability
Currently, Share Item Location is available worldwide as part of the iOS 18.2 public beta and will soon be released as a free update for iPhone Xs and later models.
Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services, commented on the new feature:
“Find My is an indispensable tool for users globally to keep track of their belongings. The combination of the Find My network and AirTag has proven invaluable for travelers facing issues with lost or mishandled bags. With Share Item Location, we are excited to provide users with a straightforward way to share this vital information with third parties like airlines while maintaining their privacy.”