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If your luggage has ever been lost in transit and you’ve had to scramble to replace toiletries, clothes and other necessities when you should be out sightseeing, you’ve probably considered buying a luggage tracker — one of the newest pieces of essential travel gear.
“Luckily, the risk that a piece of checked luggage will not make it to the?baggage carousel is less than 1% overall for domestic flights, and major US airlines have adopted radio frequency tracking technology known as RFID for domestic flights,” says Suzanne?Rowan Kelleher, a Forbes travel expert. “But if you’re traveling internationally, or if you have connections involving multiple different airlines, that’s where your risk really starts to climb.”
When checked luggage is lost during travel, most bags are reunited with their owner within three days, according to SITA, a multinational information technology company specializing in providing information technology services to the aviation community. But if your travels include multiple destinations, waiting three days for your bag might wreck your plans.
Part of the challenge in getting bags returned swiftly is that it can be hard to locate them — a problem that luggage trackers can solve quickly. They work by using Bluetooth, GPS and sometimes a cellular connection to pinpoint the location of your luggage on a map, even from thousands of miles away.
Here’s a look at some of the best luggage trackers on the market as you set our on your summer vacation.
Barely the size of a quarter, Apple AirTags have become one of the most popular luggage trackers since their debut in 2021, in part because they don't require a subscription like other luggage trackers do. It pairs with any iPhone or tablet in just a few seconds via the Find My app. While the item can only be connected to one Apple ID, this feature allows other family members to track items using a second device.
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon — travel writer and on-air travel expert — is a big fan. “Although I’m a fully paid-up member of #TeamCarryOn, this summer I had several lengthy long-haul trips that required a checked bag, so I decided to give the AirTag a try, and boy, was I glad I did!” she says.
Of three transatlantic trips she took, Gabbadon’s bag failed to arrive with her twice. “When I flew from Miami via New York and arrived in Oslo and my bag didn’t, I was able to pinpoint exactly where it was for the agents at the lost baggage desk (still at JFK!),” she says. It probably would have taken staff hours to provide her with the same info that she was able to pull up in seconds on her phone. “Even though it was frustrating to be without my bag, at least I knew where it was, which made me a lot less anxious.”
The Eufy SmartTrack Link provides many of the same features as the Apple AirTag for a slightly lower price. It works seamlessly with the Find My app on any iPhone (just?add the SmartTrack Link to the Items tab and you’ll be able to find it anywhere in the world using Apple’s network of devices).
One of our favorite features is how it can help you find items besides your luggage. Even if your phone is in silent mode, a double tap of the Eufy sends a signal to your phone that makes it ring, and unlike the AirTag, a hole in the corner of the Eufy allows you to directly attach it to your keys. There's also a QR code on the back of the device that, when scanned, shows your contact info.
The Knog Scout is a Find My-compatible luggage tracker with a couple of interesting tricks up its sleeve. Like other Find My options, you can track your luggage through Apple's network of iOS devices in the Find My app. But it also has an 85-decibel alarm that you can use as a motion detector or to find your lost luggage. It also has a QR code that, when scanned, will show your contact info. Unlike the AirTag, it has a rechargeable battery that lasts between two and four months and recharges over USB-C.
Chipolo is one of the few luggage trackers that's compatible with Google's Find My Device network, which works similarly to Apple's Find My by leveraging Android devices to pinpoint the location of a tracker passively. This tracker is small, has a replaceable battery and is water-resistant. It's compatible with Android devices running Android 9 or later with Google Play services installed.
Like the design but have an iPhone? Chipolo also makes the Chipolo One Spot that's compatible with iOS devices through Apple's Find My network.
Consider this the AirTag for Samsung Galaxy users. It works almost exactly like the AirTag, but it’s?compatible with Galaxy phones and tablets using the latest version of the SmartThings app. It uses?ultra-wideband (UWB) technology?to produce more precise location data and combines with an augmented reality feature that uses your phone’s camera to track the missing item. This requires your Galaxy smartphone to be?UWB enabled with Android 11 or higher?to fully function.
Tile's luggage trackers are compatible with both Android and iOS devices and integrate with Amazon Alexa, Hey Google and Siri. Like other luggage trackers, the Tile app tracks its whereabouts in real time, displaying its most recent location on a map. It easily attaches to a keychain or a luggage tag, thanks to a small hole at the top — plus, you can add your contact information to the Tile via the app.
If you’re an international traveler, this might be the luggage tracker for you. It comes with an international SIM card for real-time tracking anywhere in the world, a boon if you have connecting flights overseas. You can set geographic boundaries via the app, so it lets you know when it crosses into a certain area. It comes with?belt clip, magnet, lanyard, keychain and even waterproof dog attachments to help you track a variety of items. But there are some downsides. One is that its battery offers about five days’ worth of real-time tracking before it needs to be recharged. The second is that you must pay a monthly fee for Tracki's cell service, which starts at $9.95 per month.
The super-slim AirBolt may be the smallest cellular-enabled luggage tracker on the market. You’ll need to subscribe to the global live tracking, which starts at $7.49 per month, but the AirBolt may be worthwhile if you travel internationally often. Its battery can go up to nine months without needing a charge.
One standout feature is the AirBolt’s sharing capabilities. You just click on the plus sign on the device and start sharing the device's live location with another person.
Yes, the TSA allows luggage trackers in both checked and carry-on luggage. In a statement to travel website The Points Guy, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) representative told the publication that luggage trackers are allowed in checked luggage so long as its battery has 0.3 grams or less of lithium. The publication notes that Apple AirTags contain 0.1 grams of lithium.
This largely depends on your preference. You might consider putting it on the outside of your bag if your tracker has a way of showing your contact information so it’s easier for the person who finds your bag to return it to you. However, you might consider hiding a luggage tracker inside your bag if you’re worried about theft — in doing this, a thief might be less likely to remove the tracker.
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