United Airlines has announced its integration of Apple's new Share Item Location feature into its mobile app, enabling passengers to share the location of their lost luggage with the airline's customer service team. This feature, released with iOS 18.2, allows users to easily share the location of an item tracked by an AirTag or a compatible Find My network accessory.

The integration aims to expedite the reunion of passengers with their lost luggage. When a passenger files a delayed baggage report through the United mobile app, they can now include a Share Item Location link connected to their AirTag or compatible tracker. This link provides customer service agents with access to the item's current or last known location, displayed on an interactive map.

To take advantage of this feature, passengers need to ensure their United mobile app is up to date. Once a report is submitted with a Share Item Location link, customer service agents can quickly locate the missing bag and reunite it with its owner. The airline believes that having access to the Find My network data for a missing bag will significantly reduce the time it takes to locate and return delayed luggage.

Passengers don't necessarily need the app to use this feature. After filing a delayed baggage report in person, over the phone, or through United's website, they will receive an automatic text notification with information to track their misplaced luggage and add a Share Item Location link for their AirTag or Find My network accessory.

For added security and privacy, the shared location will be disabled automatically once the passenger is reunited with their missing bag. Passengers can also manually stop location sharing at any time, and the link will automatically expire after seven days.

Apple has announced that Air Canada has also integrated the Share Item Location feature, and over 15 airlines are expected to follow suit in the coming months. This development is likely to have a significant impact on the airline industry, as it streamlines the process of locating and returning lost luggage, ultimately improving the overall travel experience for passengers.

The integration of Apple's Share Item Location feature into United Airlines' mobile app marks a significant step forward in leveraging technology to address a common pain point for travelers. As more airlines adopt this feature, it's likely to become an industry standard, leading to a reduction in lost luggage incidents and improved customer satisfaction.