STAY ON TRACK

NO NEED TO STRESS OVER LOST LUGGAGE

Few things are more demoralizing than staring at an endlessly rotating baggage carousel and realizing your bag didn’t make it with you to your destination. Whether you’re heading off to a hard-earned vacation or returning home with only half your belongings, lost luggage is a serious buzzkill. ● As far as lost luggage is concerned, we don’t have great numbers for you. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, between 150,000 to 342,000 pieces of luggage were lost each month in both 2022 and 2023, equaling about 2 million lost bags annually. Many of those bags eventually make it home, but that’s little solace when you’ve arrived in Cancun wearing a wool sweater and a puffer jacket. ● A luggage tracker can help give you peace of mind when checking bags and it can help you track down your items when they’ve gone astray. If you’re considering one, we scoured consumer reviews (and tested a few ourselves) to find the best luggage trackers of 2024.

Before you shop, know that the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) dictates that location-tracking devices meet the following criteria:

Luggage trackers with lithium metal batteries are only permitted if their lithium content does not exceed 0.3 grams

Luggage trackers with lithium-ion batteries may only have a Watt-hour rating not exceeding 2.7 Wh

Not sure what that all means? No worries, we’ve found the best-bet options that meet these requirements and get fantastic reviews. Check Amazon.com for prices and availability.

Apple AirTag: Best luggage tracker for iOS

Compatibility: iOS | Location Tech: Bluetooth, iOS network | Good for: International travel | Battery life: Up to 3 years | Attachment design: Coin

The location accuracy of Apple AirTags is unparalleled, according to reviewers. I have both the AirTag and the Eufy and I tend to agree. The reason? The location of an AirTag updates every time it’s in close proximity to Apple devices that are connected to the network. While no one around you will be able to see the movement of your tracker, their devices will help to provide real-time movement.

Also – our favorite feature – the AirTag allows you to track a bag that’s up to 20 feet away – so if you suddenly realize you dropped your wallet, the FindMy app will show a big arrow letting you know if it’s to your left, right, forward or ahead and how many feet away it is.

About the size of a quarter, Apple AirTags easily slip into bags and wallets without taking up too much space. We also like that you can rename the airtags in the Find My app, so you can identify and differentiate if your luggage and your partners are heading in two different directions. A word of caution is to purchase an extra-sturdy AirTag holder.

Eufy Security: Best budget luggage tracker

Compatibility: iOS | Location Tech: Bluetooth | Good for: International travel | Battery life: Up to 3 years | Attachment design: Standard loop or credit card

The most affordable luggage tracker is also one of the top-rated for iOS users. Not only is the Anker Eufy tracker highly accurate, it has extra features that make it a user favorite.

This tracker works with Apple’s Find My app. It allows you to track your belongings even if they take a trip around the world while you’re sitting on a couch in Poughkeepsie. If luggage goes missing, a QR code on the back lets the finder contact you using whatever information you choose to share. The compact shape, waterresistant exterior, and a hole for attaching the tracker to a keychain make the Eufy tracker a top choice among shoppers. Plus, it runs about $10 cheaper than an Apple AirTag.

The Eufy is iOS-specific. While I love the Eufy for the QR code and the keyhole design, I love that the AirTag gives a real tracking option that tells you when you’re getting “warmer” or “colder” depending on how close you are to your item. That said, the Eufy will let you see exactly where the item is and if it’s moving. It has the location accuracy to say, “Yes, your bag is here with you at Terminal C.” It doesn’t have the location accuracy to tell you, “Hey, your bag is actually behind you and only 6 feet away.”

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag: Best luggage tracker for Galaxy users

Compatibility: Galaxy | Location Tech: Bluetooth LE, Galaxy Network | Good for: International travel | Battery life: Up to 500 days in “normal mode” | Attachment design: Keyring

With functions almost identical to those of the AirTag, the Samsung SmartTag is basically an AirTag for Galaxy users. With a Bluetooth range of approximately 395 feet, users can easily tap into the Galaxy Find Network (when it’s gone out of range of your phone or tablet. Like the AirTags, the SmartTag gives you real-time updates on where the tag is located.

They are exclusively for Galaxy users. They obviously don’t work on Apple products, but they won’t work on Android devices either.

Tile Pro Bluetooth Tracker: Best luggage tracker for Andriod and iOS

Compatibility: iOS, Android | Location Tech: Bluetooth, Tile Network | Good for: International travel | Battery life: One year | Attachment design: Standard loop, credit card, key ring

Compatible with both iOS and Android, the Tile Mate Pro is a versatile luggage tracker with stand-out features. A 24-hour tracking history allows you to not only see where your items are right now, but you can also backtrack through the app to view their journey. This is helpful when you’re trying to figure out if your bags were left in a cab or swiped at the airport.

The extra loud alarm comes in handy when you’re trying to locate a bag in a noisy airport or train station. Reviewers say the alarm on the Tile is the loudest of any luggage tracker.

Because the Tile accommodates both iOS and Android devices, it doesn’t force you to be specifically devoted to one operating system. .

The “community find” feature functions in the same way as an Apple AirTag’s “Find My” feature does. The Tile connects to others using the app. While it’s not quite as robust as the Apple Find My network, the Tile Network is on both Apple and Android devices, so it’s still very effective and allows you to track the movement of your belongings accurately.

While the aforementioned features are free, a paid subscription allows for a Smart Alert, which lets you know when you leave a belonging behind – or if it’s been separated from you, like forgetting your wallet in a cab. With this subscription, Tile will reimburse you $100 if your Tile can’t locate your items.

Dynotag Tag: Best battery-free smart tag

Compatibility: N/A | Location Tech: N/A | Good for: Domestic travel | Battery life: No battery | Attachment design: Credit card with standard loop

Not exactly a real-time tracker, but a great choice for the one who wants to keep the nuances of tech at a minimum, the Dynotag smart ID tag is simple and effective. Plus, it doesn’t require a battery.

A QR code houses whatever contact info you are comfortable revealing. When scanned, the person who has found your luggage can access that information to get your luggage back to you. If they scan the QR code and don’t bother to connect – that’s no problem – you’ll get their location and IP address. This is not a luggage tracker but a smart tag that can simplify the return process if your bag gets separated from you.

Are trackers worth it?

Luggage trackers may not be for everyone, but when I dropped my favorite fanny pack at LAX I wished I had one. Many airports require you to pay to track down and return misplaced items, so the small cost of my Air Tag was undeniably worth it. Still other times I’ve stood by the luggage carousel for over an hour waiting for my items, only to find out they were likely still at my layover location. What I wouldn’t have given to have headed home and gone to bed. Plus, none of these trackers are over $30. For us, that money is a drop in the bucket compared to the peace of mind they provide.