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If you have not yet incorporated Apple AirTags into your travel routine, this post is for you! Why? Because using AirTags for travel needs is a total game changer.
Let me tell you why!
Apple Airtags
If you are unfamiliar with Apple AirTags, these waterproof, button-sized devices use Bluetooth to track location. And it doesn’t even have to be your Bluetooth. Airtags use the entire Apple Find My network, which includes millions of iPhones, iPads, and Macs worldwide.
You can easily track them via your Apple device’s Find My app, where they show up as items. AirTags have revolutionized how we keep track of our things and are one of my top travel essentials.
Click here to shop Apple AirTags!
Using Apple Airtags for Travel
You can and should incorporate Apple AirTags into your family travel, and I recommend using them for two main purposes: protecting your stuff and tracking your kids.
There are countless other ways to use them, including marking your car’s location in a busy parking lot or even keeping track of your car keys. However, in this post, I am specifically sharing how to use AirTags for travel.
#1 Using AirTags to Track Luggage
My Apple AirTags have been clutch on numerous occasions over the past few years!
We have several of them, and I put them in all of my luggage, including our backpacks, checked bags, my purse, and my travel wallet. Later in this post, I will share some of my favorite accessories, including keychain-style AirTag holders and more.
You can also use AirTags inside valuable clothing using these AirTag Fabric Mounts. I wish I had done this last December when I came home from Rio de Janeiro and realized my favorite long winter coat was missing. However, I didn’t bring it on the trip, so I backtracked my weekend in Mobile just before leaving.
It had been two weeks, and I didn’t even know if I even brought it to Mobile. I went everywhere and had given up, but then asked a friend if she remembered me wearing it. She didn’t, but one of Abby’s friends overheard and said that she saw a long tan coat at the hotel when checking in, and they turned it in at the front desk. I called, and miraculously, they had it. It is very special to me, and an AirTag would have helped here!
Also, it was just announced (November 2024) that many airlines are partnering with Apple to help you share the location of an AirTag when a piece of luggage!
#2 Using AirTags to Track Kids
If you have young kids, this section will leave you mindblown! More and more parents are using AirTags to track their kids when traveling, especially at busy places such as theme parks.
I am sure we all agree that navigating crowded tourist spots or unfamiliar destinations with kids can be nerve-wracking. AirTags offer a simple solution. Slip one on your child’s wrist using an AirTag bracelet, and you’ll have real-time location updates, providing peace of mind and a way to find them.
You can also use necklaces, keychains, or even just put an AirTag into a pocket. However, you run a higher chance of losing the device. These AirTag bracelets are a game-changer when traveling with young kids!
How Do Apple AirTags Work?
So, how do AirTags work? What if I don’t have my phone on me or an internet connection?
Apple AirTags utilize Bluetooth, an ultra-wideband technology, and the vast network of Apple devices to pinpoint location. When you initially set up your AirTag and attach it to an item or name it, it becomes part of Apple’s Find My network. This network leverages millions of iPhones, iPads, and Macs worldwide to relay location information to your Apple device.
This means that even if your lost item is out of Bluetooth range, which is often the case with missing luggage, you can track it down using the Find My app, which provides precise location information with impressive accuracy.
When tracking your AirTag, you can play a sound or enable nearby tracking, which can often get you within a foot of it. Additional settings allow you to set up notifications when it’s left behind.
Setting Up Your Apple AirTags
Speaking of settings, these Apple AirTags are very easy to set up! This page on Apple’s Support website tells you exactly how to do it.
You essentially create a name and an emoji for each Airtag. It can be easy to forget which one is which. Here is how I recommend keeping them organized!
Keeping Your Airtags Organized
We have Airtags named after each of us, as well as names such as “travel wallet .” I also have named some with just a letter of the alphabet. I use alphabet stickers to put the coordinating letters on each. Then, before a trip, when I place them in our luggage, I snap a quick photo of them with the item I am putting them in. It’s also helpful to take a picture of what’s in your luggage in case it ever truly is lost, and you need to file a claim with your credit card or travel insurance.
That way, I know that Abby’s luggage has the Abby Airtag, while her backpack has the R Airtag. If she were to lose her backpack, I would start tracking R.
Of course, you can name one as Abby’s Backpack. However, it may confuse if you use them interchangeably, and it happens to be in Jake’s suitcase that trip. I find this system to work well for us. However, you can use colors, numbers, or a label maker to give them any name you want. The key is just remembering and being able to distinguish which one is which.
You can also simply rename the AirTag via your phone before each trip. However, we travel a lot and I never think of doing this!
Do AirTags Run Out of Batteries?
Yes! Many people don’t realize this, but the batteries in your Apple AirTags are only good for about a year. However, they are replaceable, and you will want to ensure they have power before your next trip.
At first glance, you may wonder how to change batteries in Apple AirTags. But it’s actually quite simple!
How to Change Apple Airtag Batteries
To change the batteries in your Apple AirTags:
- Press down on the back’s stainless steel battery cover and rotate it clockwise. The silver cover will pop off, exposing the CR2032 lithium 3V coin battery.
- Insert the new AirTag battery with the positive side up, and you should hear a chirp.
- Put the cover back in place and rotate it closed.
Click here for Apple Airtag Replacement Batteries!
Once set up, they will continuously use the battery to keep a real-time location at all times. So, you may also want to consider removing the batteries if you are not traveling for a while. This helps the battery life last longer.
AirTags For Travel: Accessories
I want to wrap up with the most fun portion of this post – the AirTag accessories!
There are many useful and even cute tools out there to accompany your AirTags. For most, the goal is to keep them attached to the item you are tracking. They are small, so this is important unless you have a dedicated zippered area for them. You can use them in checked luggage; however, you run the risk of the airline checking baggage and it falling out if it is not adequately secured. They won’t help you find your lost luggage if your AirTag is lost, too!
Here is a list of my favorite AirTag accessories. I use most of these, and others would be helpful in particular scenarios. I wish those bracelets were around when my kids were little! Additionally, I included some that may extend beyond travel, such as attaching an AirTag to your bike and school bags.
Shop Apple AirTags For Travel
You can purchase AirTags for travel or any other reason from popular online and big-box retailers. They are sold in single packs or 4-packs and also make great gifts! All Apple AirTags are the same, so there is no single best AirTags for travel. I would just price shop and find the best deal.
Here are some links to shop:
Happy Travels!
Also, has anyone seen the viral video of a bachelorette at the bars in Nashville with an AirTag clipped to the strap of her dress? It always makes me laugh!
PIN: Apple AirTags for Travel
