Learn how AirTags function and why you need one on your next trip

The loss of your baggage, wallet, or set of keys while traveling would be a complete nightmare. AirTags have been more popular over the past year or two as a means to avoid the aforementioned catastrophes from turning an otherwise relaxing getaway into a stressful ordeal.

These convenient Apple-made Bluetooth trackers allow you to keep track of whatever you connect them to, from a bag, to keys, to a car and even a pet. Everything you need to know about these practical devices, including how AirTags function, is provided below.

Small discs called AirTags are innovative little devices that can be tracked using your iPhone or iPad. Instead of using GPS, their movement and location are monitored via Bluetooth. When activated, an AirTag sends out a Bluetooth signal that may connect to any device in Apple’s Find My network, securely exchanging location data before reporting back to the owner’s iPhone.

Think of your AirTag-equipped checked luggage making its way through the terminals at an airport. By connecting to other iPhones in the area, including those carried by baggage handlers, the AirTag may relay its current location to the Find My app on your own device. Travel + Leisure highlights that if you’re concerned about privacy, know that each AirTag is tied to a unique Apple ID and that only anyone enrolled into their own Apple device with that ID will be able to see where it is.

Remember that AirTags are only compatible with Apple products and cannot be used with Androids. Tile trackers are a great option for Android users in need of a comparable accessory.

With AirTags, you can virtually always know where your luggage is, which is especially useful for checked baggage. You’ll know right away if your luggage got on board, and if it wasn’t, you could notify the airline where it may be so they can help you in getting it back. If you are using porters to transport your bags from the airport to your hotel or cruise ship, you may also monitor their location.

Visit Apple.com for more information about AirTags and how to configure them.

Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience who was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of any developments within it. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all.

This story was originally published April 17, 2023 at 1:38 PM with the headline "Learn how AirTags function and why you need one on your next trip."