Airlines lose bags. It’s not personal, but it sure feels that way when you’re standing at an empty carousel in the clothes you flew in. After having my luggage lost or “misplaced” a number of times, I only care about one question: are AirTags worth it? Spoiler: yes, but they aren’t magic.
On one trip to Florida for a cruise, my toiletry bag was inadvertently left behind in Denver. Chris and I checked my AirTag, saw exactly where the bag was, and notified the airline. Whew, the bag reached me before we left port. These days, our whole family travels with AirTags, and I’ve broken down 25 pros and cons so you can decide if they belong in your luggage too.
Are AirTags Worth It? My Honest Take
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Yes, AirTags are worth it if you have an iPhone and check bags when you travel. They won’t stop an airline from misplacing your luggage, but they can show you where it ended up. When you’re stuck at baggage claim wondering what happened, that information is worth a lot.
AirTags are also versatile enough to use well beyond your suitcase. Add one to a camera bag, a kid’s backpack, a dog collar, or your car keys, and you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing where they are. For more smart ways to make your trip easier, see my tips to travel like a pro.
16 Pros of Using AirTags for Travel
So, are AirTags useful when your bag isn’t missing? Definitely. Chris and I use them on every trip, and these are the benefits that make them worth adding to your luggage.
1. You Can See Where Your Luggage Is
Set up each AirTag in Apple’s Find My app, and you can check on your bags from your iPhone. I can see my backpack, my luggage, and my toiletry bag all in one place. After you land, it’s an easy way to find out whether a bag made it onto the plane or decided to take a side trip without me.
Apple AirTags
2. An AirTag in Checked Luggage Can Help Your Airline Find Your Bag
If your bag goes missing, Apple’s Share Item Location feature lets you create a secure, temporary link in the Find My app and share it with your airline. Airline staff can then view your AirTag’s location on a map as they work to track down your bag.
I’ve used this feature with United Airlines. If your checked bag is delayed or lost, you can share the link with United’s customer service team through the United app. Apple says it works with more than 50 airlines, but it hasn’t published a full list, so check with your airline before you fly
3. You Can Travel With Peace of Mind
Connections get tight, flights get delayed, and bags don’t always follow your itinerary. With an AirTag in your luggage, you don’t have to stand at baggage claim and wonder. A quick look at the Find My app can usually tell you whether your bag is at the airport, on its way, or still back where you started.
4. AirTags Work Worldwide
AirTags use Apple’s Find My network, so they aren’t limited to your home country. As long as an Apple device passes within range, your AirTag can update its location, whether your suitcase is in Paris, Sydney, or Salt Lake City. There’s no international plan to buy before you leave.
5. AirTags Are Compact & Durable
At 1.26 inches across, an AirTag is only slightly wider than a quarter, so it won’t weigh down your suitcase, camera bag, or backpack. Add a holder to secure it, and you’re set. It’s also water-resistant, so a rainy airport transfer or a splash on a boat tour shouldn’t be a problem.
6. You Can Track Multiple Items
Attach AirTags to your travel gear, including your luggage, backpacks, camera bag, and even a stroller. Each item needs its own AirTag, but you can see them all in one place in the Find My app. For a family trip, a four-pack can cover your bags without much effort.
Apple AirTags
7. You Can Keep Tabs on Your Kids & Their Stuff
Travel + Leisure travel advisor, Susan Whitson, recommends AirTags for tracking checked luggage and keeping tabs on your kids. As someone who was prone to wandering off as a child in the 70s, I can say my parents would have loved this technology.
Disneyland Paris, museums, and adventure parks are a lot of fun, but crowds can get distracting fast. Add an AirTag to your child’s backpack or jacket for extra peace of mind. Just remember that it’s a backup, not a babysitter, since location updates aren’t constant.
8. Precision Finding Leads You to Your Bag
If your bag is nearby, open the Find My app on a compatible iPhone and tap Find Nearby. The app uses arrows and distance directions to guide you to your AirTag. It’s kind of like playing the hot and cold game as a child!
Need more help? Tap Play Sound, and the AirTag’s built-in speaker will help you find it in a crowded baggage area.
9. AirTag 2 Has Longer Range & a Louder Speaker
Apple released the second-generation AirTag in January 2026, and its upgrades are useful for travelers. Precision Finding works from nearly 50% farther away, and the speaker is 50% louder, which should help when your bag is somewhere in a noisy baggage claim. Even better, the price didn’t change. It’s still $29 for one AirTag or $99 for a four-pack.
If you already have an original AirTag, do you need to upgrade? Probably not. Your AirTag still works with the Find My app and Share Item Location. I’d save the upgrade for when you need another tag.
10. You Can Share an AirTag Location With Family
If you travel with family or friends who have Apple accounts and devices, you can share an AirTag with them so everyone can track the same item. I share my tagged items with Chris, and I could even see my daughter’s luggage when she was all the way around the world in Australia.
11. AirTags Warn You When the Battery Is Low
When an AirTag’s battery runs low, your iPhone will send an alert that says something like, “AirTag battery is low. Replace the battery soon on Jolayne’s Backpack.” You’ll see whatever name you gave your AirTag.
If you happen to pick up or move your bag when the battery is low, you may also hear a sound from the tag. It sounds kind of like trickling water, so don’t panic if your suitcase starts making strange noises.
12. Changing the Battery Is Easy
The removable Apple AirTag cover makes it easy for you to replace the battery. Hold the AirTag with the white side down, press down on the silver side with your thumb or finger, and rotate it counterclockwise. Replace the old battery with a CR2032 lithium 3V battery, with the “+” side facing up. The AirTag will make a sound once the battery is connected.
TIP: Pack an extra battery or two in your carry-on in case you need to replace one while you’re traveling. Skip CR2032 batteries with a bitter coating, which are often labeled child-safe or child-resistant, because they may not work with an AirTag.
13. Setup Is Easy
If you’ve ever set up an Apple device, you know the process can be pretty seamless. When you unwrap your shiny new AirTag, pull the plastic tab first to activate it.
Next, bring the AirTag close to your iPhone. Just like with AirPods, a message will pop up on your screen. Follow the prompts to connect the AirTag to your Apple account, and you’re done.
14. You Can Name Each AirTag
Once you’ve connected a tag, give it a name so you can tell your items apart at a glance. Choose one of Apple’s suggestions, or create your own, such as “Jolayne’s Backpack.”
15. Keep Track of Items You Tend to Lose
Add an AirTag to any item you wish to keep track of that you tend to misplace while you travel as well as when you are home, ie., keys, your kindle, your pet’s collar, or your favorite travel backpack. Not only can you travel with peace of mind, but you can have the reassurance everyday that you’ll be able to find your car keys!
16. You Can Turn Notifications On & Off
You will want to enable your notifications as you travel, but note that you may want to turn off this feature in certain situations. For example, if you are cruising, and your luggage is securely stored in your stateroom, you may not want to be notified that you are separated from your tracked items every time you leave the room.
Related Post: 40 Cool Things to Bring on a Cruise to Hot Tropical Places
9 Cons of Using Apple AirTags
As much as I love my AirTags, they aren’t perfect. Before you buy, here are the downsides to consider, from Apple-only tracking to batteries that always seem to run out at the worst time.
17. You Will Need to Replace the Battery
AirTags aren’t rechargeable, so you’ll need to replace the battery when it runs out. Apple says a battery should last about a year, but I find I sometimes have to change mine sooner. That may depend on how often you travel and how much you use your tags.
18. Apple Ecosystem Dependency
If you have ever used one Apple product, you recognize that creating full functionality between your phone, computer, and headphones requires an investment in more Apple products. You can go down the product rabbit hole rather quickly with needing supporting devices so they can easily talk to each other.
Android users CAN detect an AirTag, but only if it’s near them and they have downloaded the Tracker Detect app; Android devices cannot track an AirTag.
19. AirTag Tracking Relies on Nearby Devices
Because AirTags do not use GPS, they rely on nearby Apple devices to update a tag’s location. These tracking abilities may be limited in remote locations, so don’t expect much help if your bag is somewhere with few iPhones around.
20. Sporadic Updates
How often does AirTag update locations? There’s no set schedule. AirTags do not use GPS, so you will not get live, moment-by-moment updates. They rely on nearby Apple devices to anonymously relay their location via Bluetooth to the Find My network. In a busy airport, updates may come quickly, but a moving bag or a quiet area can leave you with sporadic updates.
21. Privacy Concerns
Some worry about misuse with stalking and unwanted tracking that can lead to harassment and malicious intent. Alerts are in place to mitigate this, but it’s still a hot topic.
Apple provides anti-stalking features that will alert you if an unwanted AirTag tracker is traveling with you or on your person. According to BitDefender, red flags include an “AirTag Found Moving With You” alert on your iPhone or iPad and a chirping sound from an AirTag that has been separated from its owner.
22. Your AirTag Can’t Make the Airline Hurry
Simply having an AirTag and knowing your luggage’s location does not guarantee your airline will retrieve it faster. Misplaced luggage is still misplaced. You still need to file a report with the airline, even when you can see exactly where your bag is hanging out.
23. You Need a Holder to Attach an AirTag to Your Luggage
An AirTag has no hole, clip, or loop, so you’ll need a holder to attach it to your luggage. I recommend a waterproof holder, which helps protect your tag and lets you secure it inside your bag where it’s out of sight. It’s one more thing to buy, but it beats having your AirTag floating around loose in your suitcase.
Apple Airtags & Holders
24. Extra Cost
Single AirTags are reasonably affordable at $29, and they make a great stocking stuffer for the traveler in your life. Looking for more ideas? Check out these great travel gifts for the holidays. If you need several tags plus accessories such as holders, keychains, and straps, though, the price can add up.
25. Take Care Around Children
Apple AirTags are small, shiny, and look like an intriguing toy. They can also be a choking hazard, and the coin battery inside is dangerous if swallowed. Keep them out of reach of young children, and use a secure holder if you add one to a child’s bag.
What’s New With AirTag2?
The second-generation AirTag looks just like the original, so most of the changes are on the inside:
- A second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, the same one used in the iPhone 17 lineup
- Upgraded Bluetooth for better tracking range
- Precision Finding on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, or later
- A new speaker that can be heard from up to twice as far away
How Do Apple AirTags Work?
An Apple AirTag is a small disc that helps you locate the item it’s attached to. It sends out a secure Bluetooth signal, and nearby Apple devices in the Find My network pick up that signal and relay its location to iCloud. You can then see that location in your Find My app.
Consider this scenario: You drop off your checked luggage at the airport. As an airport worker handles your bag, the iPhone in their pocket detects your AirTag and automatically sends its location to iCloud. The location then appears on your Find My map. It’s anonymous and encrypted, so neither the worker nor Apple can see that it’s your bag.
How to Track Lost Luggage With an AirTag?
If you’re wondering how to track lost luggage with an AirTag, the process is simple. Just don’t skip the airline report.
- Check the Find My app. Tap Items, then select your bag to see its most recent location.
- File a report with your airline. Do this before you leave the airport, and save your claim or reference number.
- Share your bag’s location. In Find My, select your AirTag and tap Share Item Location to create a temporary link. Then give that link to your airline.
- Turn on Lost Mode. Add your contact information so anyone who finds your AirTag can see how to reach you.
- Keep checking for updates. Sharing stops automatically once you’re reunited with your bag, or you can stop it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are AirTags allowed in checked luggage?
Yes. AirTags use a small CR2032 lithium battery, and the amount of lithium is small enough that the FAA considers them safe in checked luggage. Rules can vary outside the US, so check with your airline before you fly.
Do AirTags need WiFi
No. An AirTag uses Bluetooth to connect with nearby Apple devices, so it doesn’t need its own WiFi or cellular connection. Your iPhone will need an internet connection to show you the latest location.
Is AirTag waterproof?
No, it’s water-resistant. It can handle splashes and rain, but it isn’t designed for regular swimming or submersion.
Can you track an AirTag miles away?
Yes. As long as an Apple device in the Find My network passes nearby, you can see your AirTag’s location from anywhere you have an internet connection. Precision Finding only works when you’re close.
Do AirTags have a monthly fee?
No. You pay for the AirTag and replacement batteries, but there’s no subscription.
If my luggage is carry-on, do I still need a tracker?
Your luggage travels with you, but you may still be separated from it. You might leave it in a storage locker, get separated at security, or leave it with the hotel before check-in. If you want complete peace of mind, it may be a good idea.
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The Tiny Travel Hack That Outsmarts Lost Luggage
AirTags can’t stop an airline from losing your bag, but they can replace a lot of guessing with useful information. For about $29 and a good holder, this tiny travel hack is an easy yes for me.
Chris, the travel techy in our family, was quick to try AirTags when they first came out. Now our whole family travels with them all of the time, and I doubt we’ll ever check a bag without one again. Ready to stop guessing where your luggage went? Grab an Apple AirTag and a waterproof holder before your next trip.
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Such a great breakdown of why AirTags have become a must-have! I’ve had my luggage go missing a few times too, so I know the stress all too well. These tiny trackers make such a huge difference — real-time updates, peace of mind, and no more guessing where your bag ended up. This post is a great reminder to never travel without them!
I’ve never heard of this! Thank you for such a detailed article!
Once I first put Apple AirTags in my luggage, I never took them out. I am happy they have replaceable batteries – although I do wish they would last longer! The first thing I do when I get to the baggage area is confirm my bags made it to the same airport.
This is such a smart and practical tip — thank you for sharing! I especially appreciate how you highlight using Apple AirTags in your luggage, so you can actually see where your bag is in the Find My app. That tiny disc really becomes a travel lifesaver when baggage goes missing. It’s a lovely mix of simple tech but big peace of mind.
You’ve convinced me that I should add airtags to my christmas list! I have one that I use in my large luggage, but I think I should get ones for my wallet and backpack too incase of theft.
Love the idea of using an AirTag when I travel, especially in my checked bag. Although I didn’t know that now United can track your bag too! That will definitely come in handy for many people who lose their luggage.
I’ve always contemplated getting apple airtags as a backup plan for lost luggage. Thanks for this guide!
I’ve been using my AirTags for years, and the only downside I can think of is that the batteries don’t actually last long at all and they don’t have a rechargeable apple airtag option. I’d love to see that someday! We do have a local electronics recycling center, but I still hate using batteries for anything.
Thankfully, I’ve only had to track down my suitecase one time after it went missing and my airtag lead me right to it!