3 Luggage Tracking Devices You Need to Know About
How a tracking device—like an AirTag, SmartTag, or Tile—can help save your checked luggage
Whether from unfortunate personal experiences or news stories from years past, many travelers have become leery about using checked luggage when flying. Concerns of delays in getting your bag back, or getting it back at all, are at the forefront of travelers' minds.
To soothe their fears, many have reverted to bringing more carry-on into the aircraft or slipping small tracking devices into their bags before handing them over to the airline.
Tracking device options
The gold standard in luggage tracking devices is the AirTag by Apple. These retail at $29 each or 4 for $99. The tags are small, lightweight circles, a little larger in diameter than a quarter. No charging is required, though occasionally, you may receive an alert on your phone that the CR2032 lithium 3V coin battery inside needs to be replaced. These are very inexpensive batteries and can easily be found at Walmart or a similar store.
(ProTip: Don't buy batteries with a bitter coating designed to prevent child ingestion. These may not work in the AirTag.)
AirTags intuitively pair to your iPhone and can be dropped into any bag. Many third-party cases and clips are available to help secure your AirTag in various locations inside or on your bag.
If you aren't an Apple user or need a cheaper option, Samsung SmartTag and Tile have made similar products, though features may vary.
Using tracking devices
You can usually follow the journey of your checked bag from the ticket counter to the plane in the airline's app. However, this status only updates each time an airline employee scans the barcode on your bag.
For more real-time updates, or in the case of a truly misplaced bag, your personal tracking device will be the only available source of information.
Tracking devices can also come in handy if your bag is stolen from the airport, your hotel room, or perhaps from hotel storage if you must check your bag before your room is ready.
The best place for a tracking device is inside the bag you intend to check. If you have extra tracking devices, add one to your carry-on in case you are forced to check it at the gate. Consider placing a third inside in your personal item.
If you bought Apple's 4-pack, the 4th AirTag can be clipped directly onto essential or expensive items, such as your camera bag, passport case, or laptop sleeve.
Are luggage trackers worth it?
At under $30, an AirTag is a justifiable cost when it's potentially protecting electronics, a week's worth of clothing, and a suitcase—which in and of itself can be valued at $700 or more.
When you aren't traveling, the AirTag can be easily repurposed and attached to your car keys, purse, bicycle, or any other item you might misplace or want to protect against theft.