For Faster Baggage Recovery, United Airlines Integrates Apple Technology

Apple's Find My network integrates across United's fleet so customers can track lost luggage using AirTags or other device at bag drop with the United app.

United Airlines is taking every advantage of the new technologies at this holiday season to make things easier for customers and travelers who lost their luggage. As United partners with Apple, it becomes the first major airline to open the Find My equipment for baggage tracking, using AirTags and all other Find My network accessories.

Such travelers carrying AirTags will be able to share the location through the United app straight to United customer service agents. The feature allows agents to see the item's movement on the interactive map, which will speed up the recovery of the missing luggage. The goal is to improve service for the less than 1 percent of bags that are delayed or misdirected.

The baggage tracking system implemented by United has been a big leap forward into the technology used by airlines. To this end, United incorporates Find My, which is Bluetooth-enabled and boasts over a billion Apple devices, and will greatly assist in locating lost bags. Because the network is crowdsourced, this guarantees better accuracy while keeping users' information private and secure via end-to-end encryption.

For travelers using AirTags or Find My accessories, they can file a delayed baggage report in the United app, which will then automatically update location information. According to United, this new technology should allow bags to be returned to customers in a much shorter time frame and thus create a better travel experience.

To activate the feature, customers should ensure that their device uses iOS 18.2 or above, as well as updated the latest version of the United app.