What’s new for Locate
In a press release today, Cupertino therefore provides some details. Locate already allows users to share their articles with people they trust, so they can follow them too.
In iOS 18.2 Beta 2, the Find My app has a new option to share an object's location with a trusted person
in order to find it as quickly as possible. This option will soon be available to all users as a free software update starting with iPhone X.
The Find My network and AirTag have proven to be a powerful combination for users while traveling, providing valuable location information when their luggage has been misplaced or mishandled. With “Share Item Location,” we are excited to give users a new way to easily share this information directly with third parties like airlines, while protecting their privacy.
(Eddy Cue)
In the coming months, more than 15 airlines serving millions of people around the world -including Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, United, Virgin Atlantic and Vueling- should integrate this feature as part of their customer service to locate misdirected or delayed baggage. Apple further specifies that other airlines will be added over time.
There was a time when airlines did not really view these markers favorably, even going so far as to talk about banning them. But it seems that some have changed their minds. Also, Apple provides us with selected quotes from United Airlines, Delta Airline and others to show this new collaboration (at the time of decarbonization…).
How does it work?
To do this, simply choose the option Share Item Location
(Share item location) in the tracked/compatible objects tab. This will create a link which allows a third party to see the location of the lost item.
For this function, Cupertino has thought wide. Indeed, this link can be opened on any browseron a Mac / a PC, an iPhone / an Android – small sign of openness on the part of Apple. This link will be valid for one week. It will deactivate itself if you find the item in question.
On the other hand, it poses a small condition: the trusted person must have an Apple account to track the lost object. Once connected, the (trusted) person will be able to see the location of the object on an Apple Maps type map. It will have access to the user's contact details, including their email address and telephone number.
Note also that it will offer special access Apple Partner for airlines. But at the moment, we do not yet have any specific information on the subject.
