Luggage tracker for Christmas presents in a hold bag

Why do presents make a lost bag worse?

You cannot buy them again on the way. The wrapping, the thought, the one thing that was sold out a fortnight ago: all of it is inside a single case. A lost bag in July means a few days in borrowed clothes. A lost bag on 22 December can leave you at your parents' door with no gifts and no time.

That is the practical case for a tracker. It does not stop a bag going astray, but it tells you early whether it has left the airport you flew from.

Where should the tag go in the case?

Inside, away from the outer pockets, and wrapped in something soft. Outer pockets are the first thing to be pulled off or opened on a belt. Good places:

• Zipped into the inner lid pocket, if the case has one.
• Tucked between two folded jumpers.
• Inside a sock, then in the middle of the packing.

Do not put it inside a gift. If the gift is unwrapped at the table, you will have a Bluetooth tag in front of the recipient with a long explanation to follow.

What does the tracker actually show me?

The tag talks to your iPhone over Bluetooth when you are near. Across an airport, other Apple devices relay it, so the bag shows on the Find My map where it was last seen. That is the useful bit at baggage reclaim: if the belt has stopped and the map shows the bag still at the departure airport, you know before you queue at the desk.

It is not live GPS, and the map can lag. It cannot point an arrow at the bag, and it needs an iPhone.

What should I do if the bag does not appear?

1. Check the Find My map and note the last-seen place and time.
2. Go to the airline desk in the arrivals hall, not the one outside, before leaving.
3. Give them your reference number and tell them where the map shows the bag.
4. Some airlines accept a shared location from the Find My app. Ask staff what they take.
5. Keep receipts for essentials you need to buy while you wait.

Can a tracker go in hold luggage?

Small coin-cell trackers are usually allowed in hold bags, but airline rules differ, so check yours before you travel. It is a low-power Bluetooth device. Loose spare batteries are a separate matter, so keep spares in your hand luggage.

What else should go in the bag?

A tracker is one small piece of a sensible packing plan for a trip with gifts.

• A list. Photograph the contents of the case before you close it, so a claim is quick if the bag is delayed.
• Receipts. Keep them in your hand luggage, not in the case.
• One change of clothes. A top and underwear in your cabin bag will cover a night or two.
• The medication and chargers. Never in the hold bag.
• A label inside the case. If the outer tag is ripped off, a name and phone number inside still identifies it.

Gifts that matter most, such as a present for a child that you cannot replace, are worth carrying in cabin baggage if the size allows.

Is it different for a train or coach journey?

Slightly. Trains and coaches do not use a hold in the same way, but a case in a rack or a luggage bay is easily left behind at a station. The tag helps in the same way: the last-seen location shows where the case was when the signal was lost, and you can phone the operator with the carriage and the stop.

What if the bag arrives but the presents are crushed?

That is an airline claim and has nothing to do with the tracker. Photograph the damage at the carousel, report it at the desk before you leave the airport, and keep the paperwork. Pack fragile gifts in the middle of the case, surrounded by clothes, rather than against the shell.

How Locata Tag helps

Locata Tag is a Find My compatible tag for iPhone, sold as a box of two so one can go in each bag. The CR2032 battery is easy to buy abroad and lasts up to two years, and the tag is rated IP67, so a wet carousel will not hurt it. Bluetooth reaches about 60 m, and across an airport other Apple devices relay its position. It cannot point an arrow at the bag.

See Locata Tag to read the details. Shipping within the UK costs nothing, and you have a month to send it back.

Frequently asked

Will a tracker stop my luggage being lost?

No. It tells you where the bag was last seen, but handling is still down to the airline. It is most useful in the first hour after landing, when you are deciding whether to wait or report it.

Do I need to tell the airline about the tracker?

You do not need permission for a small tag, but you should check your airline's rules for batteries. If the bag goes missing, telling staff you have a location can speed things up.

Does the tag work abroad?

Yes, as long as the bag is near Apple devices. It depends on the density of iPhones around it, so a busy airport shows updates quickly and a quiet rural area may not.

What if I fly with someone who uses Android?

The tag works only with iPhone. Android owners need a different tracker, or you can put the tag in a bag the iPhone owner keeps track of.