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Apple Is About to Roll Out a Sneaky Cool Travel Feature to Your iPhone

It promises to make it even easier to locate your missing luggage.

iOS 18.2 share location find my featurePhoto by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

By Tucker Bowe

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If you own an iPhone and use AirTags — or other “item” accessories have Find My support, such as Nomad’s Tracking Card or Chipolo’s One Spot — Apple is gearing up to roll out a potentially game-changing new travel feature.

As spotted by MacRumors, the feature will allow you to temporarily share the location of your lost AirTag with “an airline or a trusted person.” This way, if you misplace your AirTag on public transit, you can enlist the help of somebody working there — a stranger — to help you find it.

Here’s how it works.

iOS 18.2 share location find my feature
The new feature is expected to roll out with iOS 18.2, launching in early December.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

It’s called “Share Item Location”

When you realize that your bag or suitcase (whatever your AirTag is attached to) is missing, you can access a new option in the Find My app: “Share Item Location.” When selected, you’ll get a link that you can share (via text or email) with a stranger, showing the location of your device.

As the owner of the missing AirTag, you’ll be able to see how many people accessed the shareable link — making it easy to enlist the help of multiple people. And anybody with the link will be able to see your email or phone number, so they can get in touch with you if they find it.

You’ll be able to un-share the location of your AirTag at any time. The link will expire once your device is returned or after a week (if it’s still not found).

iOS 18.2 share location find my feature
Previously, you’ve only been able to share the location of an AirTag with people in your Contacts.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

Coming in the very near future

To date, you’ve only been able to share the location of an AirTag with up to five people, but they’ve had to be saved in your Contacts — aka not a stranger.

(This location-sharing ability rolled out last year with iOS 17, and it was a game-changer for families who used AirTags to track their pets; instead of just one person, it meant the whole family could keep tabs on the AirTag-wearing pet.)

This new feature appeared in the developer beta of iOS 18.2, meaning that it is most likely going to roll out with iOS 18.2, which is scheduled for release in early December.

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