Why AirTags are a great companion

We’re only a week away from Thanksgiving and with that, holiday season are in full force. Whether it is buy for loved ones or friends, or prepare for travel – it’s a busy time.

Honestly, I’m very good at losing things strategically – or rather, losing things with style. (I hope you appreciate the “Toy Story” reference.) So when a product comes along, it’s a perfect way to keep track of my belongings – especially when traveling – I will add it to my travel bag.

I’m a huge fan of Apple’s $29 item tracker, dubbed AirTag. The long-rumored AirTag product at last debuted last springand while it’s not the first item tracker in existence, it has two key features that set it apart from the rest to make it the ultimate companion: access to the net Find My and Exact Search technology.

But what makes it so special? Please explain why – and why this product is a great product underwear for frequent travelers in your life.

The most important thing to know about AirTag is that it works on Apple’s Find My Network. It’s the same network that powers Find My to all your Apple devices – Iphone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple Watch, AirPods and Mac. It’s a tool that makes it easy to track exactly where your device is, and even sounds an alarm to easily locate it.

It’s also the sheer size of the network that makes the item tracker work. The My Search network is made up of over a billion connected devices. So when you’re walking around the airport and have an AirTag in Package, it can be pinged by the devices that make up that network and pinpoint your location on the map. In our test, it’s more reliable and updates faster than competing Tile trackers.

Now, in a fairly crowded area like an airport – for example Newark Liberty International (EWR) or New York – Kennedy (JFK) – there are plenty of devices around that will allow regular location updates for AirTag, allowing for more precise location tracking. The opposite can be said for a rural spot of New Jersey compared to New York City. The more devices your AirTag can reach, the more accurate and up-to-date the AirTag’s location will be.

And yes, you need one Iphone use AirTag. You can set it up by holding it close to your iPhone and using the onscreen prompts to name it and tag it with your Apple ID. Now, from a security standpoint, Apple is releasing updates to address some of the common issues with smart trackers. You’ll get a notification if your iPhone finds an AirTag near you that isn’t registered, along with a notification if you depart without an AirTag registered for you.

During my initial testing of AirTag, I flew from Newark to Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), and it was a pretty amazing test. I put an AirTag in the inside pocket of my suitcase and said goodbye at check-in. I also had one in one leather ring accessories on my backpack.

In the Find My app on my iPhone, I can select “Jake’s Baggage” and see it on a map. I can see where my luggage is in real time – still in front of Newark Airport. And even though I don’t have a line of sight on my luggage, I was assured it was on its way to meet me at my final destination.

And sure enough, when I double checked – while at the gate – the luggage was closer to the plane. By the time I got on the plane and was sitting in the chair swinging a couple AirPods Max, I could see that the luggage was safely under me and a little further back in the cargo hold of the plane – it seems I have a better seat than my suitcase. And while airplane mode is required while on a plane, even as we flew over the East Coast of the US, I could see the baggage AirTag update in real time.

In the end, that’s the peace of mind during flight that AirTag has given me, and that’s more than I’ve gotten before when traveling. NS $29 AirTag Plus, I’ve effectively reduced my stress. And when it came time to get off the plane and go through PBI to get to my baggage claim, I still track my luggage in the Find My app. The update process was a bit slower as I made my way around a fairly quiet station, but at least I could get the gist that my bag was on the ground.

While I hope the carousel will be confusing enough to use Exact search, I can instantly recognize my red color Travel bag. Precision Find uses augmented reality, or AR, to give you large directional arrows along with distance to find your AirTag on iPhone 11 or later. It’s pretty awesome and a game changer for item watchers to provide such precision.

If you want to increase AirTag As a last resort, you should check if your airline offers any baggage tracking services. Eg, Delta will keep tabs on your pocket and keep you updated via the app for Android or iOS. In it, you can track the bags attached to your journey as they are scanned at each part of the journey and through the airport and boarding.

From dropping your baggage off at check-in until it’s loaded onto the plane and then onto the baggage claim carousel, AirTag combines with an airline’s baggage tracking app like a superpower force.

The downfall of AirTag? No built-in keyhole, same as above Chipolo or Tile track, it’s an omission. Keep in mind that while you’re spending $29 on a tracking device, then you’ll want to purchase a special accessory to suit travel.

If you have a pocket or safe place to stash your AirTag in your luggage, you don’t necessarily need an extra accessory. But considering that it will be attached to your luggage, we think it’s worth the investment in a keychain or ring accessory. We did synthesize a lot of AirTags accessories – from lanyards to keychains and even several types that you can customize.

One of our favorites is the Belkin Secure AirTag Holder, which physically grips the AirTag and ensures it won’t fall out. It will cost you between $9.99 and $12.99, which is much cheaper than an Apple leather keychain or leather ring.

While I don’t lose my luggage with the AirTag, I’ve used it on a few trips and use one on my keys every day. If you’re good at losing things in style or have a habit of leaving things out of place – and have an iPhone – then AirTag makes a lot of sense. And when you’re doing last check before going on vacation, you should spend a little more and get an AirTag for more peace of mind.

And if you’re going to see family, you can get four AirTags for $97.62 if you want to give gifts. If not, get yourself one for $29.99.

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