Find the location of my shared item – Image courtesy of Apple
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Apple's update to Find My in iOS 18.2 will allow users to share the location of AirTags with others, which could help airlines track your lost luggage faster.
AirTags have proven to be extremely useful for tracking important items, especially luggage. However, because they are tied to an account, you can’t easily share the item’s location with others.
On Monday, Apple said it would be adding a feature called “Share Item Location” that can be used with its Find My network. Simply put, the feature will allow users to share the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with someone else.
The idea is that it could be shared with someone you trust who could, for example, retrieve the tagged item on your behalf if you were unable to do so.
It’s not just people, Apple says, but could also be shared with airlines. In theory, this could help an airline quickly locate your lost luggage at an airport or in its transit system, increasing the chances of its safe return.
More than 15 airlines will support the feature in the coming months, including Air Canada, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Qantas, and Virgin Atlantic. More airlines are expected to be added over time.
For security purposes, only a few people within the airline will be able to view the link, and recipients will be required to authenticate before viewing the location.
The tag sharing is not permanent, as it will be disabled once it is reunited with its owner. The sharing can also be stopped by the user at any time, and it will automatically expire after seven days.
You can create and share a Share Item Location link from Find My on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The link will open a website with an interactive map that updates the location and timestamp of the last ping of the tag.
“The Find My network and AirTag have proven to be a powerful combination for users while traveling, providing invaluable location information when bags are lost or mishandled,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services. “With Share Item Location, we’re excited to give users a new way to easily share this information directly with third parties like airlines while still protecting their privacy.”
Share Item Location will be available as an update to iOS 18.2 running on iPhone Xs or later. It will also be available as part of Apple’s current beta cycle of the OS.
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