In a move that blends innovation with passenger peace of mind, Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has implemented Apple’s Share Item Location feature to help guests securely and privately locate lost or delayed baggage equipped with AirTags or other Find My network accessories.

This cutting-edge feature is part of Saudia’s broader digital transformation strategy and reinforces the airline’s commitment to enhancing the travel experience through technology.

How It Works

Travelers can now generate a secure Share Item Location link via the Find My app on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac. This link can be submitted through Saudia’s dedicated digital portal, enabling the airline to assist in locating the missing luggage.

Key benefits of the feature:

• End-to-end encryption: Ensures total privacy — even Apple cannot view the item’s location.
• Automatic expiration: Location sharing ends after 7 days or once the bag is recovered.
• Manual control: Guests can stop sharing the location at any time.

This feature is available to Apple device users running iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, or macOS 15.2 or later.

A Guest-Centric Innovation

“As part of our ongoing commitment to digital transformation, we are elevating the guest experience through cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions,” said Abdulgader Attiah, Chief Data and Technology Officer of Saudia Group. “This integration of Apple’s Share Item Location feature underscores our dedication to providing world-class service and setting new standards in the aviation industry.”

The Apple Find My network consists of over one billion Apple devices using Bluetooth technology to detect and relay the location of missing items. It’s a crowdsourced, anonymous, and secure way to improve lost item recovery.

What This Means for Travelers

Lost luggage has long been a pain point for airline passengers. By embracing Apple’s Share Item Location tool, Saudia becomes one of the first airlines globally to integrate this tech into their customer support system — setting a new standard for real-time, privacy-first baggage tracking.

Whether you’re a frequent flier or heading on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, adding an AirTag to your luggage and enabling Share Item Location could be the easiest way to stay in control, even when your bags aren’t.

Airlines that support or allow AirTags or luggage trackers:

1. United Airlines

• United hasn’t officially partnered with Apple, but they allows AirTags in checked baggage.
• Their app does offer real-time baggage tracking (through airport scanning), but not via Apple’s Find My integration.

2. Delta Air Lines

• Delta allows AirTags and has its own Real-Time Baggage Tracking feature in its app.
• However, it doesn’t use Apple’s Find My or Share Item Location features directly.

3. American Airlines

• Also allows AirTags and recommends passengers place them in checked luggage.
• They offer baggage status updates via their app, but nothing as advanced or integrated as Saudia’s new offering.

4. Lufthansa

• Initially banned AirTags in 2022, citing aviation safety rules, but reversed the decision after public and regulatory backlash.
• Lufthansa now allows AirTags but does not offer direct support or integration with Apple’s Find My.

5. Air France & KLM

• These airlines also permit tracking devices like AirTags and Chipolo.
• No direct integration with Apple systems.

What Makes Saudia’s Move Unique?

• It’s the first airline to formally integrate Apple’s Share Item Location system into its customer service workflow via a dedicated digital portal.
• It actively uses data shared by guests from Find My to help locate luggage, rather than relying solely on internal tracking systems.
• The approach is privacy-first, encrypted, and automatically expires, adhering to Apple’s security protocols.