If your luggage has ever been lost in transit and you’ve had to scramble to replace toiletries, clothes and other necessities when you should be out sightseeing, you’ve probably considered buying a luggage tracker.
“Luckily, the risk that a piece of checked luggage will not make it to the baggage carousel is less than 1 percent overall for domestic flights, and major U.S. airlines have adopted radio frequency tracking technology known as RFID for domestic flights,” says Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, a Forbes travel expert. “But if you’re traveling internationally, or if you have connections involving multiple different airlines, that’s where your risk really starts to climb.”
When checked luggage is lost during travel, most bags are reunited with their owner within three days, according to SITA, a multinational information technology company specializing in providing information technology and telecommunications services to the aviation community. But if your travels include multiple destinations, waiting up to three days for your bag might wreck your plans.
Part of the challenge in getting bags returned swiftly is that it can be hard to locate them — a problem that luggage trackers can solve quickly. They work by using Bluetooth, GPS and sometimes cellular technology to pinpoint the location of your luggage on a map, even from thousands of miles away.
Here’s a look at some of the best luggage trackers on the market, so you can prepare yourself for the 2023 holiday travel rush.
The Eufy SmartTrack Link is gaining popularity among travelers because it provides many of the same features as the Apple AirTag for a slightly lower price. It works seamlessly with the Find My app on any iPhone (just add the SmartTrack Link to the Items tab and you’ll be able to find it anywhere in the world using Apple’s network of devices).
Free “left behind alerts” ensure you’ll know the moment your bags are no longer where they’re supposed to be. One of our favorite features is how it can help you find items besides your luggage. Even if your phone is in silent mode, a double tap of the Eufy sends a signal to your phone that makes it ring, and unlike the AirTag, a hole in the corner of the Eufy allows you to directly attach to your keys, too. There’s also a QR code on the back of the device that, when scanned, shows your contact info.
While AirTags are only available to Apple users, Tile’s luggage tracker are compatible with both Android and iOS devices and integrate with Amazon Alexa, Hey Google and Siri. Like other luggage trackers, the Tile app tracks its whereabouts in real-time, displaying its most recent location on a map. It easy attaches to a key chain or a luggage tag thanks to a small hole at the top, plus, it allows you to add your contact information to the Tile via the app, making it easy for anyone to find you if they come across your luggage. All they have to do is scan a QR code on the lost Tile.
Consider this the AirTag for Samsung Galaxy users. It works almost exactly like the AirTag, but it’s compatible with Galaxy phones and tablets using the latest version of the SmartThings app. It uses ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to produce more precise location data and combines with an augmented reality feature that uses your phone’s camera to track the missing item. This requires your Galaxy smartphone to be UWB-enabled with Android 11 or higher to fully function.
If you’re an international traveler, this might be the luggage tracker for you. It comes with an international SIM card for real-time tracking anywhere in the world, a boon if you have connecting flights overseas. You can set geographic boundaries via the app, so it lets you know when it crosses into a certain area. It comes with belt-clip, magnet, lanyard, key chain and even waterproof dog attachments to help you track a variety of items.
But there are some downsides. One is that its battery offers about five days’ worth of real-time tracking before it needs to be recharged. The second is that you must pay a monthly fee for Tracki’s cell service, which starts at $9.95 per month when billed every two years.
The super slim AirBolt may be the smallest cellular-enabled luggage tracker on the market. You’ll need to subscribe to the global live tracking, which starts at $7.49 per month, but the AirBolt may be worthwhile if you travel internationally often. Its battery can go up to 9 months without needing a charge.
One standout feature is the Airbolt’s sharing capabilities. You just click on the plus sign on the device and start sharing the device’s live location with another person.
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