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Worse than any number of travel mishaps, arguably more ghastly than a delayed or missed flight, is losing your suitcase to the whims of an understaffed industry. Luggage trackers are becoming increasingly important these days, what with bag transfers persistently bungled by labor shortages in the post-COVID travel boom. According to the Department of Transportation’s most recent Air Travel Consumer Report, in April 2023 over 219,795 bags were mishandled—i.e. damaged, delayed, stolen, or otherwise lost.
As frightening as those numbers are, those with checked bags can rest easier knowing that a cheap luggage tracker in the sub-$30 range can help them keep tabs on their precious travel bags wherever they go. Buying a luggage tracker should really be a no-brainer for anyone who’s checking luggage that’s even remotely useful or worth some amount of money. A five-pack of underwear, some old clothes, and extra toothpaste may cost next to nothing, but can it ruin a whole trip to have a full suitcase worth of your stuff spinning out into the ether? Certainly. It’d probably ease some anxiety knowing where it’s heading, especially if your airline isn’t being much help in locating it.
Just leave the little device in your bag, and if (when?) it goes missing, you’ll be able to locate it lickety-split. If you’re getting the gnawing feeling that something’s amiss—a sensation multiple people have reported as travel kicks back into high gear—they’re worth every cent. Even the best tracker, though, won’t miraculously teleport your missing items to you. You’ll still have to navigate the infuriating bureaucracy that is airport security to reunite with your lost goods. But hey, at least you’ll know they’re not floating out in the middle of the ocean. Peace of mind typically costs a whole lot more.
The Best Luggage Trackers, at a Glance
Last-minute packing? Again? You might not have learned your lesson, but you can start packing on of these luggage trackers ASAP with a quick rundown of our top picks.
How do luggage trackers work?
Before AirTags and other luggage trackers were around, all travelers had were luggage tags, those little accessories you’d affix to your checked baggage with personal info like your name, address, and phone number. If you were to lose your bag, you’d hope that some kind soul would find your tag and contact you with your bag’s location—and hopefully not keep your cargo for themself. Now we have luggage trackers, which utilize Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or cellular data to give you virtual updates on your bag’s location.
How do you use a luggage tracker?
Luggage trackers are fairly dummy-proof: Make sure it’s on, toss it in your bag, and ensure it’s connected to your phone or computer. As long as your luggage tracker’s battery isn’t dead, it should give you its location whenever you request it from your device.
Do luggage trackers actually work?
Check online and you’ll find numerous frustrated travelers have extolled the use of luggage trackers for helping them locate their missing baggage. In short, they do work—just make sure they have enough juice in their battery and, if there’s a subscription fee, that you’ve paid for as much coverage as you would think you need. And are luggage trackers worth it? The cheapest one we recommend is less than $30, and that’s a whole lot cheaper than springing for a whole ‘nother bag (and replacements for the personal items within) in case your stuff is gone for good.
Now, the best luggage trackers to keep your sights on your bag even when you’re miles apart.
The Best Overall Luggage Tracker: Apple AirTag
Apple debuted its AirTags in April of 2021, and they quickly became popular thanks to their ability to track your lost items. Slightly larger than a quarter, AirTags help you track your missing gear—like a wallet, jacket, or backpack—through a Bluetooth connection. If you lose something with your AirTag affixed to it, you can use your phone to trigger a sound effect letting you know its location; the only caveat is that the missing item has to be within 800 feet of you. But given you’ll be using your AirTag to track your lost luggage—which is probably miles away—that feature isn’t as relevant.
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