KLM and Apple team up to prevent lost luggage through collaboration

You may have experienced it yourself: you arrive at your destination, but your suitcase is nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many travelers According to SITA, an average of 7.6 bags per 1,000 passengers go missing.

Losing your suitcase can be quite stressful, especially when you arrive at your destination and your belongings are missing. It's particularly frustrating to be without your clothes and personal items while trying to enjoy your trip.

New Collaboration Between Apple and Airlines

In 2021, Apple introduced the AirTag. This small, smart device can be attached to your personal belongings or hidden in your suitcase when you travel. The AirTag is a tracker that helps you find your items via the 'Find My' app on your Apple devices. Whether it's your keychain, wallet, backpack, or suitcase, with an AirTag, you always know where your belongings are, even down to the exact location.

Recently, Apple released a software update (iOS 18.2) that allows you to share your AirTag with companies, including airlines. This new feature enables you to share the location of your AirTag with organizations via a link. This allows staff to better assist you in locating your items.

In a recent press release, Apple announced that they are collaborating with 18 airlines, including KLM, to support the new feature. In addition to KLM, the following airlines were also mentioned:

• Aer Lingus
• Air Canada
• Air New Zealand
• Austrian Airlines
• British Airways
• Brussels Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Eurowings
• Iberia
• Lufthansa
• Qantas
• Singapore Airlines
• Swiss International Air Lines
• Turkish Airlines
• United
• Virgin Atlantic
• Vueling

It is notable that Air France was not mentioned in this list, as KLM is part of the Air France-KLM group. The press release mentioned that more airlines will be added in the future, so we expect that Air France will be included as well.

Sharing an AirTag with a Link: How Does It Work?

Apple has added a new feature to the 'Find My' app that allows you to easily share the location of your AirTag via a link. You can even set how long the link will remain available. This makes it easier to find your items and collaborate with companies.

Want to test it yourself? Follow the steps below to share a link to your AirTag. You can remove it right after testing.

1. Ensure your iPhone is running iOS 18.2 or later.
2. Open the 'Find My' app and select the AirTag you want to share.
3. In the 'Lost' section, click 'Share Location.'
4. You will now see a link that you can share with others to share the location of your AirTag.

To open an AirTag link, the recipient does not need to have an Apple device. Companies, such as airlines, can view it in a web browser.

We hope you never need to use it, but if your luggage does get lost, this feature will be a lifesaver.