Airtags Can Show Where Your Bag Is, But Not Who’s Going To Get It Back

Watch: Get a behind-the-scenes look at a bag's journey at the airport

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the journey checked bags go through when they venture off on the conveyor belt at LaGuardia Airport.

• While integrating Apple AirTag data into airline lost luggage processes may seem helpful, it may not significantly change the process, according to a luggage delivery executive.
• Although location tracking can provide peace of mind and assist in some cases, a backlog in recovery may result from increased usage.
• The most effective way to prevent lost luggage remains traveling with carry-on baggage whenever possible.

As some airlines get ready to integrate Apple AirTag data into their lost luggage process, one luggage delivery executive is warning that it may not be as big a help as it may seem.

"Technology is evolving, and knowing your bag's location may provide peace of mind, but the airline's process doesn't change significantly," Audrey Kohout, Co-CEO of Luggage Forward said in an email. "Many lost bags turn up locked in warehouses, particularly on international flights. Airlines need additional labor who can handle these unplanned issues. Someone must retrieve the bag from the incorrect location, get it on another flight, or pack it up for shipment to the owner's home, hotel, or cruise port."

While there have been some viral stories of travelers reuniting with their lost luggage thanks to location data, with more people telling airlines exactly where their bags are, the carriers may get backed up in tracking them all down.

"It takes two to get your item back," said Skyler Logsdon, CEO of Boomerang, a tech company that helps users digitize their lost and found experience, previously told USA TODAY.

Still, it's likely to reassure travelers if they can see where their stuff is.

The surest way to avoid a lost item, though, is to travel with just carry-on baggage if you can.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.