Apple AirTag Review: The Must-Have Travel Gadget for Checked Baggage

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I firmly belong to Team Checked Bag. I prefer not to stress about finding space in the overhead bins or bringing my suitcase into sketchy restroom stalls. Plus, it’s a complimentary benefit on many of my travel credit cards, so why not utilize it?

That said, I tend to have bad luck with my bag actually arriving at the baggage claim. This year alone, my bag has been lost or left behind on six different flights (including one during a busy holiday weekend in Europe, which took three days to track down and return to me).

Given that the Fourth of July weekend was expected to be a chaotic nightmare and I’d be flying from Colorado to Alaska on an airline that had recently canceled numerous flights and was facing potential strikes, I thought it wise to try the Apple AirTag for tracking my luggage—if only for the sake of my peace of mind.

Apple AirTag Review for Travelers

How It Functions

Apple's AirTag is a Bluetooth tracker designed to help users easily find items that are prone to getting lost, such as keys, wallets, or bags. This quarter-sized, disc-shaped device can be hidden in a pocket or attached using an optional key fob. It's tracked via Apple’s Find My network (similar to iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods). Additionally, it can emit a sound and features Precision Finding (an on-screen tool that utilizes directional arrows and the distance between your phone and the AirTag) to aid in locating items more efficiently.

Field Test: Advantages and Disadvantages

For my first trial with the AirTag, I traveled from Denver, Colorado, to Ketchikan, Alaska, with a stopover in Seattle, Washington.

Tip: Ensure your phone is updated to the latest software version before attempting to sync your AirTag. I picked mine up at Target just before heading to the airport and was cutting it close to the bag drop-off deadline, so I had a few nerve-wracking minutes waiting for the update to complete before I could sync the device. Fortunately, setting up the AirTag was quite straightforward. My iPhone quickly detected the unpaired device nearby and provided simple on-screen instructions to finalize the setup.

As the airline staff handed me the checked bag tag, she assured me that I would see it again in Alaska. With the AirTag, I could track my suitcase's location in near real-time via the Find My app.

Since the AirTag operates on the Find My network, its location is determined by its distance to other Apple devices (with end-to-end encryption, ensuring that no one else can see your AirTag's location or identity). The more populated the area, the quicker and more reliable the updates. In the bustling airports of Denver and Seattle, my checked bag was updated about every minute or two. It remained in close proximity to other Apple devices, allowing me to see its journey through various terminals before it was loaded onto a truck and driven around the airport's perimeter. As I boarded my flight for the first leg of my trip, my suitcase did too. Even while in the air (and in airplane mode), I could track my bag as it soared over the West Coast and the Alaska panhandle.

In the small Ketchikan airport (with fewer than five gates), my bag's location didn’t update from the moment we landed until it finally appeared on the conveyor belt—there simply weren’t any nearby Apple devices to connect with.

Since I traveled to Alaska for a fishing trip, I was bringing back about 50 pounds of frozen seafood. Given the fish's perishability, I was particularly anxious about it making the flight. I attached the AirTag to the cooler for the return journey. Being able to monitor (and double-check) its status meant I could relax, and I could see it being especially beneficial for pet owners checking larger animals as baggage.

However, there are some noteworthy downsides. Firstly, the AirTag is exclusively compatible with Apple products (apologies to Android users). Additionally, it lacks a built-in key ring hole, so you'll need to either hide it in your bag or buy a separate holder (I recommend the Otterbox Rugged AirTag Case—it’s sturdy and comes in vibrant colors). That said, I'd still place the device in my bag; it would be too easy for someone to take it out.

New Sharing Features

With the release of iOS 17 in September 2023, AirTags introduced an exciting new feature: group sharing. Users with updated devices can now share their AirTag locations (along with other Find My items) with up to five additional people. If your bag goes missing, this feature could significantly simplify the recovery process.

Final Thoughts

While it's true that American, Delta, and United offer luggage tracking apps, they don't provide real-time updates like the AirTag does, and there’s always potential for human error. For added peace of mind, investing in an AirTag is worthwhile—it’s quite accurate and dependable. I've already included it on my master packing list, so it will definitely accompany me on all future trips. I’m even looking forward to seeing how it performs when my bag inevitably gets lost.

Also, remember that if you're flying with Alaska or Delta and your bag is delayed by 20 minutes or lost, you’re eligible for compensation in the form of miles or cash.

This article was initially published in 2022 and was most recently updated on September 25, 2023, with the latest information.