New "Where is?" feature from Apple: share location data with the airline
Many passengers now attach AirTags to their suitcases so they can be found if they are lost. Apple has realized this and will soon offer a special function.
An aircraft with four AirTags (symbolic image): The airline will be allowed to search in future.
(Image: Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock.com / Apple)
Reports of luggage being "lost" or at least delayed by airlines are increasing year on year. This is why more and more airline users are now placing trackers such as Apple's AirTags in their suitcases. This makes it possible to track where the property is at any given time – and even help airlines to find suitcases if they can't seem to find them themselves. In order to professionalize the process, Apple is planning a new function in the "Where is?" app in an upcoming update for iOS that will make it easier to share location information with "trusted parties" such as airlines. So far, this has been possible within the family and/or with other Apple account owners or members of your own contact list, but sharing with companies was not previously planned.
Link to the map on the web
As reported by testers of the second developer beta of iOS 18.2, the feature appears the first time the "Where is?" app is opened. "Share the location of an item", it says. "Get help finding a lost item by sharing its location with an airline or trusted other person. They can then see the current location of your item on a map." Technically, this is implemented via a simple link that also works on non-Apple devices.
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According to Apple, the map display on the web can be viewed "for a limited time" – apparently for one week. Users can also see how often the link is accessed. The airline or trusted third party will have access to the Apple account email address or phone number on file and the serial number of the item. As Apple does not mention the word "AirTag", it can be assumed that location details of other devices with the "Where is?" function – such as Macs, iPhones or AirPods – can also be passed on.
Data can be stored on request
Another new function in the "Where is?" app is the option to add phone numbers and email addresses to items, which the finder can then view.
In future, it will also be possible to add websites "for each phone or tablet" that contain more information about the owner. This will open up the platform further, which should lead to a faster search result.
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