AirTag Tracking for Lost Baggage

On a recent trip, I checked a bag with Alaska Airlines and connected onto American Airlines for the rest of my journey. I made the connection, but my bag didn’t. It was left behind in Las Vegas after my quick hop from San Diego.

While connecting in Charlotte, I checked the Find My app and noticed my bag was still sitting in Vegas. Sometimes AirTags don’t update consistently, but on smaller aircraft the cargo hold is often close enough to the cabin for them to connect in flight. This time… no signal. Thankfully, there wasn’t anything critical in the bag, so I decided to let the process play out after arriving at my final destination, CHO.

Shortly after baggage carousel turned off, I received a push notification from the American Airlines app prompting me to file for complimentary baggage delivery. I submitted the required details and quickly received an email confirmation. The claim process also asked whether I had an AirTag in the bag and provided an option to share the AirTag tracking link. Since I keep AirTags in all of my luggage, I shared the link to help locate it faster.

I was on the last flight into CHO that night, so I assumed the bag would arrive the following day. Sure enough, it took a redeye from Vegas to Charlotte, then caught a morning flight into CHO. By that afternoon, my bag was delivered. Huge thanks to American Airlines for making the recovery process smooth and easy.

AA Baggage Tracking

Now 5 years later since I first blogged about AirTags, airlines now see the value in AirTags. Currently, 36 airlines support AirTag-based baggage tracking to help accelerate lost luggage recovery, and I highly recommend using them:
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/01/12/iphone-airtag-bag-tracking-airlines-list/

Conclusion: Always put an AirTag in your checked luggage at a minimum. If you want extra peace of mind, add them to your carry-ons too. I even keep a Find My tracker card tucked into my passport sleeve.