Lufthansa Now Allows Passengers to Share AirTag Data for Lost Luggage

The Lufthansa Group is upgrading its baggage-tracing protocol by introducing a new service that integrates Apple AirTag location data into its system, allowing passengers to share the location of their lost luggage directly with the airline.

The feature is now available across Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings, making the German airline group one of the latest carriers to enhance baggage tracking capabilities through digital innovations.

Photo: Courtesy of Lufthansa

Since ITA Airways recently joined the Lufthansa Group, it is likely that the Italian carrier will soon offer this capability to its customers.

AirTag Assists Luggage Recovery

The introduction of this new tool enables travelers to utilize their own Apple AirTags to share real-time location data with the airline through its baggage tracking service. This initiative is part of an ongoing trend that sees airlines enhancing baggage tracking and recovery, addressing the common issues of mishandled luggage and passenger frustration.

Photo: Apple AirTag. Courtesy of Apple

“Our digital products team, the ‘Digital Hangar,’ continuously develops new services to improve the customer experience,” said Dieter Vranckx, Lufthansa Group’s Chief Commercial Officer. “The use of Apple AirTag data is one of many ways we are enhancing the customer journey with digital solutions.”

Passenger Frustrations with Lost Luggage

Apple’s AirTag tracking devices, launched in 2021, have increasingly been used by travelers to track checked luggage. While passengers could previously locate their bags independently, airlines often lacked access to this data, making it difficult for staff to retrieve bags even when their location was known.

Photo: Apple AirTag. Courtesy of Apple

With the new system, Lufthansa passengers can now share AirTag data directly through the airline’s digital baggage tracing channels, allowing for quicker intervention by airline staff.

Oliver Schmitt, Head of Lufthansa Group’s Digital Hangar, stated, “Thanks to our app and website, passengers can now find solutions quickly and easily in the event of irregularities. The integration of our customers’ AirTag data opens up additional possibilities for us to act more efficiently and quickly.”

Industry-Wide Shift

Apple’s “Share Item Location” feature allows travelers to generate a link that can be shared with airlines or airport staff. This feature will enable non-Apple users, including baggage handling services, to access an AirTag’s last known location via a web-based map.

Lufthansa’s adoption of this technology aligns with broader industry trends. United Airlines has updated its app to allow AirTag data sharing, while Qantas has become the first Australian airline to integrate the feature.

Photo: Courtesy of United Airlines

Delta, British Airways, and other major carriers are also in the process of implementing similar measures, as baggage tracking remains a significant issue for global travelers.

Beyond individual airlines, SITA—a technology provider for over 500 airlines and ground handlers—has integrated AirTag support into its WorldTracer baggage management system, further expanding the technology’s reach.

Improving Baggage Handling

While the Lufthansa Group’s move marks a step forward in baggage tracking transparency, it remains to be seen how effectively airlines will use this data in real-time recovery efforts. Many passengers continue to voice concerns about airline responsiveness when bags are lost, despite having access to precise location data.

As more airlines adopt Apple’s tracking integration, the question remains: Will this new technology lead to tangible improvements in baggage handling, or will it merely add another layer of digital oversight without real operational changes?