A luggage tracker is a small Bluetooth tag that reports its location through nearby phones on a finding network. Choose an Apple AirTag if you use an iPhone, a Samsung SmartTag for Samsung Galaxy phones, and a tracker on Google's Find My Device network or Tile for other Android phones. Trackers with small coin-cell batteries are allowed in checked luggage under FAA guidance. They don't stop bags from being lost, but they show you where a bag is, which helps the airline find it.
A tracker in your checked bag turns “your bag is delayed” into “your bag is in Chicago.” Here is how they work and which to choose.
How trackers work
Trackers use Bluetooth. When a phone on the tracker’s network passes nearby, it anonymously reports the tracker’s location. Busy places such as airports have many phones, so location updates are frequent.
Which tracker to choose
| Your phone | Tracker | Network |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Apple AirTag (or Find My-compatible tags) | Apple Find My |
| Samsung Galaxy | Samsung SmartTag | Samsung SmartThings Find |
| Other Android | Tags for Google’s Find My Device network | Google Find My Device |
| Mixed or either | Tile | Tile network |
The best tracker is the one that matches your phone, because the size of the network decides how often you get updates.
Allowed in checked bags?
Yes. Under FAA guidance, trackers powered by small coin-cell batteries are allowed in checked luggage. Spare lithium batteries and power banks, by contrast, must go in your carry-on.
Using a tracker on a trip
- Put one tracker inside each checked bag, in an interior pocket.
- Check it shows up in the app before you leave home.
- At baggage claim, check the app before filing a report.
- If the bag is delayed, share the location with the airline. Some airlines can accept a shared tracker location directly.
Limits
- Trackers show location, not who has the bag.
- Updates slow down in quiet or remote places.
- The airline still has to retrieve the bag.
Battery
Most coin-cell trackers last about a year. Replace the battery before a big trip if the app shows it is low.
Common questions
Are AirTags allowed in checked luggage?
Yes. Under FAA guidance, trackers powered by small lithium coin-cell batteries, such as AirTags, are allowed in checked bags.
Do luggage trackers have GPS?
Most don't. They use Bluetooth and rely on nearby phones in their network to report location, which works well in busy airports but less well in remote places.
Which tracker should I buy for Android?
Samsung Galaxy users should choose a Samsung SmartTag. Other Android users can choose a tracker that works with Google's Find My Device network, or Tile, which works on both platforms.