Airline Baggage Recovery Technology: A Case of Apple’s Share Item Location

Abstract

<p align="justify">Losing luggage can disrupt travel plans and cause anxiety, but new tracking technology is improving recovery. In November 2024, Apple launched the Share Item Location feature, allowing iPhone users to securely share AirTag or Find My accessory locations with airlines via a temporary link. This helps airlines track and recover lost luggage more efficiently while protecting user privacy. The feature, available globally on iPhone Xs and newer, has been adopted by over 15 major airlines. However, its effectiveness is limited by its exclusivity to Apple devices and a small number of participating airlines, highlighting the need for broader platform and airline support. <p align="justify">行李遗失不仅会打乱旅行计划，还会给旅客带来焦虑，但新型追踪技术的出现正在提升行李找回的效率。2024 年 11 月，苹果公司（Apple）推出了“共享物品位置”（Share Item Location）功能，允许 iPhone 用户通过临时链接，安全地与航空公司共享 AirTag 或“查找”（Find My）网络配件的定位信息。这有助于航空公司更高效地追踪和找回遗失行李，同时妥善保护用户隐私。该功能支持全球范围内的 iPhone Xs 及后续机型，目前已被超过 15 家主流航空公司采用。然而，由于该功能仅限苹果设备用户使用，且目前参与的航空公司数量较少，其普适性受到了一定限制，这表明未来仍需要更广泛的跨平台支持和更多航空公司的加入。