Apple Airtags

[Guvner]

I got four tags engraved and delivered about 3 weeks ago. Only took a week and, thankfully, all four were in the box. Heading to LST tomorrow for the weekend, so will test one out.

 

[DC3]

I got four tags engraved and delivered about 3 weeks ago. Only took a week and, thankfully, all four were in the box. Heading to LST tomorrow for the weekend, so will test one out.

Probably no need to test. They work. Although, no so sure about Taswegia?

 

[Lynda2475]

The database to keep a history of airtag registrations from date of purchase or first linkage would be huge.

Not really small piece of data air tag serial number, apple account, status. Once a tag is registered to an account, should only be able to be uncoupled by the owner of tbat account. So you register it is owned by your account, you want to give it to someone else, deregister then they can register with thei account.

Add a function to register tag as stolen which blocks tag from being used with app (the same way mobile companies can blacklist IMEI of stolen mobile handsets so they cant be used on network with a different simcard). Takes away incenti e to steal tags.

 

[RobJ]

AirTags were useful a couple of weeks ago when Qantas was having a meltdown. Captain made an announcement that they were waiting for some more bags so I opened the Find My app and saw mine over the other side of the terminal well away from the gate I was departing from. It stayed there until we took off so I knew they hadn't been loaded before we even departed. As soon as we landed, I went straight to baggage services - "I know the bags haven't started coming out yet, but I have an AirTag on my bag and it's still showing in Sydney". Handed over my baggage receipt and a quick check confirmed this was able to create a report and leave before all the other passengers realised and without having to stand around the carousel waiting for nothing.

Also was able to keep tabs on it over the next couple of days — instead of wondering if it had been loaded on a flight I could see it sitting in the same spot until it moved over to another side of the airport and then a bit over an hour later finally showed up at my destination airport.

They work really well because the Find My network is so expansive with so many iPhones out in the wild.

If these use lithium batteries, isn't it illegal to use them with checked luggage?

 

[cougar_df]

I got four tags engraved and delivered about 3 weeks ago. Only took a week and, thankfully, all four were in the box. Heading to LST tomorrow for the weekend, so will test one out.

Is there an Android version of these tags?

 

[justin23]

I just bought a 4 pack last week thinking along these exact same lines. Will test on a trip to Auckland and will actually take some to Antarctica later this year, but of course no mobile reception will mean they won't report back.

If these use lithium batteries, isn't it illegal to use them with checked luggage?

Good question. They use CR2302 lithium button cells. They are different to rechargeable lithium-Ion batteries though, Which I think is the issue.

Post automatically merged: Aug 8, 2022

Is there an Android version of these tags?

Tile make a similar product also. Not sure if threy work the same way.
I also have a Chipolo wallet card which comes in multiple flavours i believe.

 

[jb747]

If these use lithium batteries, isn't it illegal to use them with checked luggage?

If batteries are installed in equipment, and are below certain power levels, then they are allowed as checked luggage.

 

[DC3]

If batteries are installed in equipment, and are below certain power levels, then they are allowed as checked luggage.

I knew that someone would have the answer.

 

[offshore171]

If these use lithium batteries, isn't it illegal to use them with checked luggage?

It's a size thing. Small batteries are fine. For Qantas the limit for lithium batteries without making special arrangements is 100 watt hours.

To give some examples, this is significantly larger than a laptop battery, but a good deal smaller than an eBike battery.

The Airtag battery is used in some watches. It is less than 1 watt hour. It's the size of an aspirin.

 

[pks]

I used Apple Air tags on a recent trip to Uk & Norway. They were very useful on arrival at LHR T2 where all luggage had been removed from the carousels (it took over an hour to get through passport control) and there were hundreds of bags everywhere. Using the phone it directed me to my luggage very quickly.

Also when leaving SQ advised luggage may not make flight due to baggage issues at LHR, once on onboard I could see luggage had been nearby within last 10mins so assumed it had made the flight.

 

[coriander]

CR2032 have power of about 0.5Wh.

If you're thinking of Batteries / Powerbanks etc:

• none permitted in checked luggage,
• up to 100Wh permitted in carry-on,
• batteries >100Wh <160Wh limited to max of two in carry-on.

Relevant mainly for those of us with CPAP machines.

Additionally, 25,000mAh Powerbanks just about hit the 100Wh limit.

 

[DougR]

Interference with Q-Tag. I don't know how common but I had to remove my airbag (and put it in my pocket) when the automated bag check at SYD decided that I had two baggage tags on the one bag. (i.e. the QTAg and the airbag)

 

[coriander]

The Airtag battery is used in some watches. It is less than 1 watt hour. It's the size of an aspirin.

Wow, you must take some biiiig aspirin tablets




I'll see myself out.

 

[rayray]

I used an AirTag recently on a trip AKL-ADL-DOH-LHR, and it was very reassuring to be able to see the luggage near the plane before take off, and at the arrival airport after landing (did sometimes take about 10m to update). Very useful to see in LHR where the bag was. The luggage belt actually stopped while bags were coming out, and it was great to be able to open the app, see my bag was on the other side of the belt and go get it.

 

[bakerbj]

Is there an Android version of these tags?

Similar question, We use Android for phones but I have/travel with an Apple Mac notebook. Question, obviously, will the Apple device show up on the Mac, especially in the airport on arrival? and is there an android version as we are travelling again so it would be worthwhile to consider investing in something that works with our mobiles.

 

[Denali]

Just catching up with someone who was suppose to fly Dublin>Dubai>Sydney but ended up flying Dublin>Heathrow>Perth>Sydney. He said watching his luggage/tags at Heathrow gave him some comfort for the Y direct to Perth... in the middle seat.

His co worker sadly got re-routed/changed to Air India via Delhi and he could see his luggage left behind and didnt see it again until after he returned from NZ last week. He had to buy all new winter/snow gear and he said never again to Air India.

 

[blackcat20]

Is there an Android version of these tags?

Samsung smart tags if you have a Samsung. We've bought some for our trip next week.

 

[DC3]

I used an AirTag recently on a trip AKL-ADL-DOH-LHR, and it was very reassuring to be able to see the luggage near the plane before take off, and at the arrival airport after landing (did sometimes take about 10m to update). Very useful to see in LHR where the bag was. The luggage belt actually stopped while bags were coming out, and it was great to be able to open the app, see my bag was on the other side of the belt and go get it.

Yes, they do work.

Post automatically merged: Aug 8, 2022

Interference with Q-Tag. I don't know how common but I had to remove my airbag (and put it in my pocket) when the automated bag check at SYD decided that I had two baggage tags on the one bag. (i.e. the QTAg and the airbag)

Yes, ditch those QF coasters on bags, not the Apple tag.

 

[plspoon]

Similar question, We use Android for phones but I have/travel with an Apple Mac notebook. Question, obviously, will the Apple device show up on the Mac, especially in the airport on arrival? and is there an android version as we are travelling again so it would be worthwhile to consider investing in something that works with our mobiles.

The research that I did before our trip leads me to believe that the AirTags really are the best solution. Because they use Bluetooth and Find my iPhone, rather than relying on people having an app installed.
I don’t think the Tile is particularly useful, sounds like the Samsung tags may be similar, needs the app.
Anyway, Tile didn’t work for us….We have Samsung phones and iPads.

 

[MelMel]

I decided to order a pack of 4 Airtags directly from Apple as I wanted them engraved.

I was at home the day the brown, cardboard box was delivered. I signed for the package which I took inside and opened immediately. The box was a real pain to open as it had been very heavily sellotaped but when I opened it, it was empty! The package did not appear to me to have been opened and re sealed.

Got on to Apple who asked for photos of the box etc but they couldn't really grasp that the box was empty.

Long story short, the matter was eventually escalated to management (by them) because they wanted both a stat dec plus they wanted me to report them as stolen to the police which I said I couldn't do as they weren't technically stolen from me (police station confirmed this). So, after a lot of debate, Apple accepted just a stat dec witnessed by the duty police officer.

When I suggested maybe they had never been packed, Apple said the international tracking showed the box as having the correct weight the whole time, so no idea where they went "missing".

Apple follow up was good and I received my new, engraved Airtags a couple of weeks later which I arranged to collect from the Post Office and opened in front of the staff.

I do wonder where the originals, with my family's initials and emojiis went. I was told that apparently someone tech savvy enough can use them for themselves and Apple can't trace them.

It is actually easy to slice along the tape at the box joins open the box and then very neatly retape the box with new tape over the old tape. You would need to look very closely to see if there were two layers of tape. How do I know? I once opened my Christmas present under the tree and taped it back up again.