Air India introduces digital tool to trace lost luggage, BA

Air India has introduced a new digital capability allowing passengers to share the location of their misplaced checked-in baggage using Apple’s AirTag feature, becoming the first airline in Asia to implement this functionality.

The integration is intended to support faster recovery of lost luggage by enabling customers with Apple devices to transmit real-time AirTag location data to Air India’s baggage support system. The airline carries over 100 million items of baggage annually, with more than 99.6% arriving on time. For the remaining instances, often caused by airport system errors or flight misconnection, the new feature offers a practical way to trace and recover missing bags.

Dr Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Air India, stated: “As we transform into a world-class global airline, we are excited to offer our guests an innovative option to help locate their baggage in case it does not arrive at the destination on schedule.”

Passengers whose bags are missing can report the issue at the airport’s baggage counter, where a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) is filed. They can then use the ‘Find My’ app to generate a Share Item Location link and upload it through Air India’s website or mobile app, associating it with their PIR number.

Authorised Air India airport teams use the shared location to trace bags within airport premises. Location sharing ends either once the baggage is recovered or after seven days, whichever is earlier. The guest also retains the option to stop sharing at any time, ensuring privacy and data control.