Need the ability to program them to not transmit for X hours. Problem solved.
Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
31–40 of 629 posts
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#32How are they even going to know if there is an airtag in someone's luggage? Are they particularly obvious on an x-ray or is there some kind of specialised detector?
Well, if they are transmitting, at least in theory it would be possible to detect that transmission. Though I would be kind of surprised if they actually put much effort into actually enforcing it.
But then why is inflight wifi a thing?
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#33> This is specifically because of the transmission function. Lufthansa claims that the transmission function needs to be turned off during flight when in checked luggage, just as is required for cell phones, laptops, etc. While this is negligible and I can see a lot of people saying "Well who cares it's just one" if you imagine a lot of interference from a lot of baggage with them on a flight.. I haven't tested, but…
AFAIK you are still allowed to use Bluetooth and wifi in all phases of flight which is what the AirTag uses (ble).
If you aren’t then someone should tell United because I stayed connected to their network watching a movie all the way from cruise altitude to the gate.
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#34This is going to have the opposite of their intended effect. People are now going to be more interested than ever in AirTags precisely for luggages thanks to them.
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#35The cat is out of the bag. There is no way that people are going to stop putting AirTags in their luggage, at least not while airlines are still constantly losing luggage and fighting people on reimbursement.
I do see how they'd find it bothersome. Imagine what it must be like that the situation before was: "Oh no my baggage is lost!" "Oooh that's rough! We'll let ya know!" then nothing.
Where now what it might be like is: "Oh no my baggage is lost at XYZ airport at your terminal" and that accountability is somewhat forced now because they can't just say it wasn't found or it is 'in transit' when it really isn't.
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#36> This is specifically because of the transmission function. Lufthansa claims that the transmission function needs to be turned off during flight when in checked luggage, just as is required for cell phones, laptops, etc. While this is negligible and I can see a lot of people saying "Well who cares it's just one" if you imagine a lot of interference from a lot of baggage with them on a flight.. I haven't tested, but…
I wonder if cargo bays could have a mesh or paint that would act as a faraday cage. I will admit that I suspected at first glance that this was to avoid accountability for luggage that is lost.
Well the fuselage does already, but the cargo bays are a faraday in a faraday ?
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#37Good luck enforcing this ban. How would they? Open up suspect bags and tear them apart looking for a device the size of a quarter?
These devices beacon every few seconds to announce their location.
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#38Good luck enforcing this ban. How would they? Open up suspect bags and tear them apart looking for a device the size of a quarter?
AirTags are scannable as an NFC and they identify themselves as AirTag.
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#39The cat is out of the bag. There is no way that people are going to stop putting AirTags in their luggage, at least not while airlines are still constantly losing luggage and fighting people on reimbursement.
I do see how they'd find it bothersome. Imagine what it must be like that the situation before was: "Oh no my baggage is lost!" "Oooh that's rough! We'll let ya know!" then nothing. Where now what it might be like is: "Oh no my baggage is lost at XYZ airport at your terminal" and that accountability is somewhat forced now because they can't just say it wasn't found or it is 'in transit' when it really isn't.
So inconvenient for them to do what they were contracted to do: fly you and your luggage from A to B. Can’t they just get free money?
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#40For all the people commenting "How would they know?", AirTags are scannable by NFC readers and identify themselves as an AirTag. You can test this yourself by downloading the NFC Tools app on your iPhone (or one for Android) and doing a read on the AirTag. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nfc-tools/id1252962749
If you stick it in the middle, it’s out of range. Unless you have some super powered scanner perhaps
If it is not connectable you won't locate your luggage either