Google has expanded its tracking system to now supports Bluetooth tracker tags (similar to AirTags). This feature is built on top of Google’s device and item tracking system, which are mainly powered by Find My Device and compatible trackers.
The new luggage-friendly feature lets you attach a compatible tracker tag to your bag so that it can be trackable through Google's network if the luggage is lost in an Airport. The “share item location” feature helps generate a temporary time-limited link that you can share with your Airline.
The airline can use that link to help locate your bag faster. The airline will be able to see your bag in real-time location without handing over your Google account (Find Hub) account or your device.
However, we've curated this article so that you can explore how the “share item location” feature works inside the Google Find Hub, which airlines support the feature, and what privacy and security measures are built inside the feature.
Google Find Hub app
The Google Find Hub is a newer app (or feature) from Google that expands on the older Find My Device. To use the feature, this app must be downloaded and installed on your device. Beyond bags and luggages at the airport, the app can also be used to track your phones, tablets, and other network devices.
Notably, Find Hub app is only available for Android users. Maybe it'll be available to other operating system like iOS in the future. But for now, it comes from Google and is tightly integrated with the Android ecosystem. So, you'll need to go-to Google Play Store to download the app.
In addition to the usage, you'll need to attach a Find Hub compatible tracker tag or network accessory—the one linked with to the Find Hub account—to your luggage. Then, a supported airline will also be needed to make the tracking successful. A list of supported airlines are highlighted below.
An example of a tracker tag is shown in the immediate image above.
It's also important to let you know that Find Hub tech are now built inside the compatible new models of Samsonite suitcases, and can be paired with the network straight out of box without needing a tracker tag. Google and Samsonite are partnering to embed Find Hub technology into select suitcase models.
Sharing your bag location with Airline
If your bag is missing at the Airport, you'll need to share the location with your Airline for easy recovery. Here's how to share your bag location with your Airline:
- Open the Google Find Hub app and tap on the lost bag. You must have linked the bag to your account using tracker tag or the in-built technology in the suitcase before your travel.
- Tap “share item location” to generate a temporary time-limited link that you will share with your Airline.
- Copy and paste the link to the designated platform thr airline provided. You can revoke access at anytime in the Find Hub app or wait for the link to expire on its own.
- The link will also expire automatically and disable the share once the device detects that your bag has been returned to you.
Once you share your bag’s location using the secure, time-limited link, your airline can step in to help track it down more efficiently. The airline gets access to the real-time or last known location of your luggage through the tracking network and pinpoint where it might have been misplaced. This added layer of visibility can speed up the recovery process and improve your chances of getting your bag back without the usual delays.
Airlines that support Find Hub
Google has partnered with multiple airlines to support Find Hub location sharing. The tech giant has also integrated with major baggage systems, including SITA WorldTracer and NetTracer. These baggage systems are indeed widely used by hundreds of airlines at thousands of airports globally, so the feature can scale across many carriers.
Some early adopter of these features includes:
- Air India
- Lufthansa Group: Includes Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss International Airlines
- Saudia Airlines
- Turkish Airlines
- Ajet
- China Airlines
- Qatar Airlines
- Scandinavian Airlines
- And other airlines in America and Europe.
Notably, Google has designed this tracking system with users' privacy and security in mind. The company said the device location is encrypted while tracking and sharing. You can also decide who get the link and revoke access immediately you want. The link will expire by itself after seven days of creation, and sharing turns off as soon as your luggage has been recovered.
