Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic Integrate "Share Item Location" Feature in Apple's Find My Service
Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic have incorporated Apple's "Share Item Location" feature within the Find My service, allowing passengers to track lost luggage using AirTags hidden in their suitcases.
Announced late last year, Apple has been working with international airlines to facilitate the integration of this technology into their baggage tracking systems, aiming to streamline the location and return of lost luggage to its rightful owners.
According to our partner publication, AEROIN, while many passengers already use AirTags to monitor their luggage and ensure it reaches its destination, airlines have rarely taken passenger-provided location data into account.
To address this situation, Apple developed a secure feature that enables passengers to share the location of their AirTags or other Bluetooth-enabled Apple devices through the Find My app.
If a passenger finds themselves alone at the baggage carousel after all other travelers have retrieved their luggage, they can now file a lost baggage report and include a "Share Item Location" link, allowing airline representatives to track the missing bag.
Expanding Baggage Tracking Across the Industry
So far, approximately 18 airlines have accepted this feature, though full implementation across baggage tracking systems will take time.
On Tuesday, Lufthansa announced the activation of the feature, and a day later, Virgin Atlantic confirmed its successful integration into its IT systems.
"We know that many people already use AirTags or Find My network accessories to track their luggage. On the rare occasions when operational issues or missed connections require baggage tracking, our teams can now access this shared information, offering our customers peace of mind regarding our progress," said Corneel Koster, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic.
Within the Lufthansa Group, the tracking technology will also be available for its subsidiary airlines, including SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings.
As an added security measure, location sharing will automatically deactivate once the passenger retrieves their luggage. It can also be manually disabled at any time, and if not turned off earlier, the system will stop sharing location after seven days.
Other airlines that have confirmed their participation in the integration of this technology include Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, KLM, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.
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