The best luggage trackers that will safeguard your precious cargo
Take control of your personal belongings with these stellar luggage trackers.
Take control of your personal belongings with these stellar luggage trackers.
Take control of your personal belongings with these stellar luggage trackers.
Travel chaos has been making headlines all summer. Canceled flights and long delays dominate the storyline, but one of the most pressing and under-reported issues is actually the alarming rise in lost luggage. Just in the first quarter of 2022, more than 684,000 bags were mishandled, from Air Travel Consumer Reports, published by the Department of Transportation.
“Mishandled,” in airline parlance, means the bags were “lost, delayed, damaged or pilfered.” American Airlines was the worst offender, mishandling an average of nine bags for every 1,000; Allegiant was the best at delivering bags, according to the Air Transportation data crunched by (Allegiant only mishandled 1.8 bags per 1,000).
In response, many travelers are taking control of their luggage themselves via luggage trackers. We found the best on this growing market of smart travel devices, below.
Best Luggage Trackers
- Best For iPhone Users -
- Easiest To Use -
- Best Splurge -
- Unlimited Distance -
- Best Real Time Information -
What to Consider
Finding the right tracker can mean the difference between going off on a vacation stressed, or in a state of blissful anticipation. Keep the following in mind and you’ll be sailing away on a cloud of joy in no time.
- How Is It Activated? Some trackers are only activated if scanned by a Good Samaritan or luggage handler who is trying to track down the owner. While this will ensure that most luggage gets found (the tags are attached to the suitcase on the outside), it isn’t bulletproof.
- Battery: Most — but not all — tags include batteries. You'll need to make sure the battery will last for the duration of your trip. One of our picks also has a 17-day battery life (one of the longest in the market), which is something to keep in mind if you're going to a faraway place.
- Subscription Fee: Some of the most effective trackers require a monthly subscription fee. For regular travelers, it may be worth it. For a special occasion, check to see if you can do a short-term subscription.
From Apple's famed AirTag tracker to devices made specifically for traveling with a checked bag, these are the best luggage trackers on the market right now.
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