Your Android Phone Will Soon Be Able to Help Airlines Find Your Lost Luggage

Android users will soon be able to use tracking devices to coordinate lost luggage recovery directly with airlines. The feature, one of many announced as part of Google's March Pixel Drop, generates a Find Hub link for compatible trackers that can be shared with airlines to help locate bags that have gone missing transit.

Apple rolled out a similar feature for AirTags in late 2024, called Share Item Location. iOS users can temporarily share the location of a Find My accessory with their airline to help find lost luggage. It's important to note that AirTags (and other tracking tags, including those compatible with Android's Find Hub) aren't real-time trackers, as they generally rely on pinging other internet-connected devices nearby to share their whereabouts. Share Item Location for AirTags is currently supported by 36 airlines, including all major U.S. carriers.

How to use Android Find Hub to locate your lost luggage

To use this feature, you must already have a Find Hub-compatible tracker in your luggage. Select the tracking device in the Find Hub app, tap Share item location to generate an encrypted URL, and copy the link to paste into your airline's lost luggage claim form on its mobile app or website.

The sharing link automatically expires after seven days (during which you will have hopefully recovered your luggage), though you can stop sharing at any time. Find Hub will also disable location sharing when your Android phone detects the tracker nearby.

At this time, 10 global airlines are working with Find Hub for baggage recovery:

• Ajet

• Air India

• China Airlines

• Lufthansa

• Austrian Airlines

• Brussels Airlines

• Swiss International Airlines

• Saudia Airlines

• Scandinavian Airlines

• Turkish Airlines

None of the major carriers in the U.S have signed on, though Google has said it plans to partner with more airlines, including Qantas, in the future.

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