Apple Airtags

[Ric]

Thank you Lynda2475!!
May I ask which version did you use? Just the White Mates?

 

[kyle]

I use Tiles with my Samsung Phone and Tablet and has worked flawlessly for me. You get more details with a subscription (first month is free) but also works fine without a subscription.

I do not know anyone who has had a good results with Airtags who doesn't have an iphone.

Whilst the Samsung tags work, the user base is likely too small to help if your bags are not where they are supposed to be.

User base for the Samsung is definitely not small, but the tags are power hungry. Battery getting low after a month in Europe and I put in new a couple of weeks before departure.

 

[Lynda2475]

I've had my tiles for 14-15 months and battery is still fine in all of them, they have spent about 12 weeks overseas. That Saif I only connect to them via BT when travelling.

Samsung phone usage is massive, Samsung tags much lower than Tile user base from what I've seen.

 

[tdimdad]

For Android phones, Tiles are the most popular option. This also means you get more "receivers", i.e. phones roaming around carrying the Tile app than other Android-based tracker apps.

Tile is all good in busier places but very sporadic in some other countries. Out of interest, I have been outing my tiles in Sydney, Brisbane and Singapore here and there and they get picked up quite well most of the time (e.g. I can track my ferry rides enough to see that I've been on a ferry and whereabouts & when approximately, etc). Also, I saw when my bag was stuck at LHR.
But e.g. in Sweden and Finland, the reception is very sporadic because there probably are far less phones roaming around which would track Tiles. Also in Taiwan, I got a few pings but far from being able to track my moves. The same probably applies to many other countries, too.

This is where Airtags still win: the sheer number of "receivers" is larger and most iPhone users have their bluetooth and location active all the time. If Google manages to develop their own ubiquitous version or standard for Androids (and it gets adopted en masse), the tagging becomes a lot more reliable.

 

[kerfuffle]

I do not know anyone who has had a good results with Airtags who doesn't have an iphone.

You can use a compatible iPad to track AirTags without needing an iPhone.

Source: Me. I have a Pixel phone and an iPad mini

 

[group-of-5]

Tile still seems to be the best option for android users. Usefulness of any of these trackers comes down to the number of users in the location, so airtags win hands down in most locations because of the number of iphones about, but not really useful if you aren't in the apple universe. I've been using a couple of tile mates (2022 version with sealed 3 year battery) for 13 months. Battery still seems good, but no real way of telling what the current battery level is (or at least I haven't been able to find it).

Given the importance of the number of other tile users in the location for usefulness, I've found them pretty good for traveler heavy locations such as airports. I have had an instance of seeing the bag in the aircraft hold (737). That's pretty much my primary use case. Has the bag been left at the departing airport? Is it still waiting out the back to be placed on the luggage carousel? Has someone picked up the bag from the carousel by mistake and walked away with it?

 

[Lynda2475]

You can use a compatible iPad to track AirTags without needing an iPhone.

Source: Me. I have a Pixel phone and an iPad mini

 
An ipad is just a larger iphone (the way my galaxy tablet is just a larger version of a galaxy phone). To get full value from air tags you need to have a device in the Apple universe, which many choose not to.

I was forced to have an iPhone at work at one point, most painful device ever and it may have "accidentally" got dropped (thrown) down the firestairs.

 

[blackcat20]

We use the Samsung tags, and have only just had to replace the batteries after 12 months of use.

 

[Ric]

Thank you all. I can't find any Tile Pro here so I ordered a set of 4 from US for A$195.

 

[PirLPe]

 
An ipad is just a larger iphone (the way my galaxy tablet is just a larger version of a galaxy phone). To get full value from air tags you need to have a device in the Apple universe, which many choose not to.

I was forced to have an iPhone at work at one point, most painful device ever and it may have "accidentally" got dropped (thrown) down the firestairs.

I'm not the only one who doesn't like iPhone.
I think they should have developed an Android app so that this task could be done by people on Android as well. Not everyone owns an iPhone. And not everyone likes iPhones. Or it's a marketing ploy, like, you have to buy an iPhone or an iPad anyway.

 

[offshore171]

A welcome new update for AirTags. The iOS 17 update brings the ability to "share" AirTags so that multiple people can track the same tag.

Up to 5 people can be set up, so for example a whole family travelling can have access to track the suitcases etc

Details:

Now you can share Apple AirTags: here’s how

Under the just-released iOS 17 software, you can invite others to use your button-sized wireless trackers.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[Port Power]

I'm not the only one who doesn't like iPhone.
I think they should have developed an Android app so that this task could be done by people on Android as well. Not everyone owns an iPhone. And not everyone likes iPhones. Or it's a marketing ploy, like, you have to buy an iPhone or an iPad anyway.

Oh, sure! Apple will definitely not be inventing something their opposition can also use. And of course marketing also comes into it: if you like the concept of a product, you will have to buy the associated accessories to use it.

 

[maria pawla]

Air Tags are great, they let you know where your luggage is. Unfortunately, they are for your benefit only as in our case the airline wasn't interested in knowing where our luggage was and didn't want to take that information into consideration when I spoke to them. one bag is in Charles de Gaulle and the other is in Edinburgh and I am here in Australia with no hope or reconnecting with our luggage.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @maria pawla

Which airline from EDI/CDG and which one landed you into Australia?

 

[maria pawla]

Welcome to AFF @maria pawla

Which airline from EDI/CDG and which one landed you into Australia?

we flew from Malta to Charles de Gaulle with Air Malta and Air France from Charles De Gaulle to Edinburgh. Both flights were booked through Air Malta as connecting flights. Neither Airline wanted to take responsibility for the luggage. Both airlines passed responsibility onto each other

 

[RooFlyer]

The responsibility for ‘lost luggage’ rests with the final airline that handles the bag before you should have picked it up from a carousel (irrespective of where the bag was actually lost or misplaced).

As the bags were checked through MLA to EDI via CDG with one of them staying at CDG, Air France has responsibility as the last carrier. Check out possibility of compensation via EU261 regulations (Google). @kangarooflyer88 send to have experience with that.

How did one get left in Edinburgh?

 

[maria pawla]

The responsibility for ‘lost luggage’ rests with the final airline that handles the bag before you should have picked it up from a carousel (irrespective of where the bag was actually lost or misplaced).

As the bags were checked through MLA to EDI via CDG with one of them staying at CDG, Air France has responsibility as the last carrier. Check out possibility of compensation via EU261 regulations (Google). @kangarooflyer88 send to have experience with that.

How did one get left in Edinburgh?

both bags originally went to Manchester instead of Edinburgh, then Belfast a few days later. they both travelled in different directions after that. Dublin, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and finally one ending up in Charles de Gaulle and the other Edinburgh. Suitcases travelled everywhere from July before ending up at different airports.
thanks for your reply

 

[RooFlyer]

My God! Definitely look at EU261. Not sure how it handles bags, but good luck!

 

[BD1959]

Air Tags are great, they let you know where your luggage is. Unfortunately, they are for your benefit only as in our case the airline wasn't interested in knowing where our luggage was and didn't want to take that information into consideration when I spoke to them. one bag is in Charles de Gaulle and the other is in Edinburgh and I am here in Australia with no hope or reconnecting with our luggage.

What an horrendous experience. The one time I've needed to use my airtag info - a mishandle at SYD for a simple connection down to MEL - baggage services at MEL were only too happy to confirm my assertion "my airtags tell me my bags are still in SYD". A quick verification on the system, a reference handed over and we were on our way before home - to await delivery the next day - before most of the flight had arrived to gather around the carousel.

Regards,

BD

 

[adammarcos]

We have them in anything that's attractive or could be misplaced (i.e. camera bags, backpacks, wallet, purse) as well as attached to our many sets of keys. And given the price of a replacement set of electronic car keys, they're very cheap insurance. They've helped me find my keys at home quite a few times...it's amazing where I put them sometimes.

Hi All,

Apologies if this is being discussed elsewhere, I've scanned widely and very surprisingly can't find a thread ...

As an apple-phile I'm pondering buying some airtags and there seem to be some OK reviews on the effectiveness of these showing the location of luggage - with the one highlighted exception of when an airtag is moving through the conveyor system.

The one scenario I've seen discussed however is when the airtag is airborne (which is could well be if its been misdirected onto a transpac, for example). In this scenario would the airtag ping an iphone with enabled bluetooth connected the the aircraft's wifi and provide the location? Or are these devices only ever going to work if fairly stationary in a lost luggage facility for example?

On a more general note, any examples of where the airtag has proven invaluable - either aviation or non-aviation related? My daughter's beagle cross is an accomplished Houdini and I was contemplating purchasing four and donating one to the Lost Dog's housekeeper!!
Nox Vidmate VLC
Regards,

BD