iOS 18.2 introduces a convenient feature for sharing the location of AirTags and Find My accessories with others via a temporary link. This allows both parties to view the item's location on a real-time interactive map, simplifying the process of tracking belongings.
Initially released in the developer beta, this functionality is now accessible to iOS 18.2 public beta users. It proves particularly useful in scenarios like lost luggage, enabling travelers to share the location of their bags with airline staff or other relevant parties. Related: Fixing iPhone Personal Hotspot Issues on iOS 18.1
Around 20 airlines, including major carriers like British Airways, Lufthansa, Delta Air Lines, and Singapore Airlines, will soon integrate this feature into their lost luggage services. Airline personnel can authenticate access using their Apple accounts or partner email addresses. Apple aims to expand this integration to more airlines over time, collaborating with partners to ensure secure and private data handling.
SITA, a key IT provider for the air transport industry, will incorporate support for this feature into WorldTracer, its baggage-tracing system used by over 500 airlines and more than 2,800 airports globally. This broad integration promises to significantly improve the process of locating lost luggage.
Sharing Your Item's Location
- Open the Find My app.
- Go to the "Items" tab.
- Choose the AirTag or item you want to share.
- Select "Share Item Location" to generate a temporary link.
Recipients can then view the item's location on an interactive map with real-time updates and a timestamp. Shared locations automatically deactivate upon item recovery, and links expire after seven days. Users can also manually stop sharing at any time. Related: CFPB to Supervise Digital Payment Giants Like Apple Pay
The feature is available for iOS 18.2 beta users in most regions and will soon roll out to iPhone X and later models. Related: Apple's Conversational AI Chatbot "LLM Siri" Coming in 2025