United Airlines is making strides to ease travel anxiety by integrating Apple’s Share Item Location feature into its mobile app. This innovative step means that passengers equipped with AirTags or devices using the Find My network can now share their luggage’s real-time location with airline staff directly from the United app.
For travelers whose bags seem to have a mind of their own—like showing up in Paris while they’re stuck waiting in Perth—this feature could be a game changer. If you’re using Apple’s latest iOS 18.2 update, you can easily pinpoint your luggage’s exact location and relay that information to United’s support team.
No United app? No problem. If your bag goes rogue, United will send a text prompt encouraging you to submit a Share Item Location report. This ensures quick action in tracking down your misplaced belongings, reducing the typical chaos of dealing with lost luggage.
Apple’s Share Item Location debuted as part of iOS 18.2, which officially launched this week. The feature initially caught attention when air transport tech firm SITA integrated it into their WorldTracer system—a global platform used for tracking lost baggage. United Airlines is now one of the first major carriers to implement this technology into their workflow.
However, there’s a catch. The feature will only be available to those using iPhones updated to at least iOS 18.2. So, for Apple users, updating your device could mean the difference between tracking your lost bag or facing travel turmoil.
This partnership is a promising step towards stress-free air travel, highlighting how airlines and tech companies can collaborate to solve age-old travel headaches.
Read more on the full integration and rollout details here: Engadget – United Airlines & Apple Partnership.