Ugh, that's really annoying. But can they realistically detect an AirTag in checked luggage?
Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
221–230 of 629 posts
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#222Can we put a cell tower on the plane?
A lot of flights now don't have screens because they expect that everyone will just use their phone to connect to the in-flight wifi to watch movies and buy things (or get super slow internet access that a few people will use to watch streaming video for the low low price of like $50).
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#223Earlier quoted context omitted.
Quoted post unavailable.
I am not sure what's with the tone of this comment, it seems a lot like a teacher who once told me I'd never be able to get a job if I put my feet on my desk, but, here I am. (26) Baggage equipped with lithium battery(ies) must be carried as carry-on baggage unless the battery(ies) is removed from the baggage. Removed battery(ies) must be carried in accordance with the provision for spare batteries prescribed in para…
For reference, a typical CR2032 has 0.1g lithium metal content and ~0.6Wh capacity.
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#224Not sure what would be the motive for the airline to hide that the bag is lost. If it's not waiting for you at the baggage claim, you know it is lost, airtag or no airtag. Also not sure what good it does to the user either, to know in which particular hall of which particular terminal the luggage is right now. Much more useful outside of airports.
Gives airlines the freedom to not load luggage for operational reasons (plane too heavy, high paying cargo shipment became available very recently, fuel at this airport too expensive) and pretend it was a simple mistake to avoid (rightful) customer outbursts about being singled out. Airline staff can probably see as much on their screens but not allowed to share.
My first reaction in that scenario would have been to blame the baggage handling of the airport.
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#225Why don't airlines offer a baggage insurance system? Have a separate check in area for the bag, where the value has to be declared with a staffer verifying said things were in the bag, the bag is sufficiently durable, and charge a large amount for the service. Then maybe ID verification on pickup. $300 a bag would keep this an option just for people moving their cameras and stuff. Or let Fedex open a check in counter…
Because airlines are a race to the bottom and we live in capitalist hell. "Start your own airline if you think you could do it better".
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#226Note that the reason for airport mode is a courtesy to cell-phone carriers. It's not any air safety issue. Rather, 300-500 cell phones all trying to contact the next cell tower, multiple times per minute, would wreak havoc on cell service. https://www.inverse.com/article/51015-cell-phone-use-on-airp... At one point, when both cell phones and laptops were new, there was perhaps a risk to the airplane's electronics. Mo…
> Note that the reason for airport mode is a courtesy to cell-phone carriers. This doesn’t track. What about trains?
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Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#227Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#228How 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?
It's an interesting question. Maybe it's just scare tactics. The battery that goes in an AirTag is the same as in a lot of wristwatches and I expect it would look like a wristwatch via x-ray. And it is exactly as dangerous as such a thing, which it to say: not.
>The battery that goes in an AirTag is the same as in a lot of wristwatches and I expect it would look like a wristwatch via x-ray.
If it's just scare tactics then the similarity to watches is irrelevant. However, if for whatever reason they want to crack down on it, it being similar to wristwatches isn't going to stop them. I suspect most wristwatches are kept with the person rather than in checked luggage, and that if were actually determined they could demand a search of your luggage if they spot anything that remotely looks like an airtag on x-ray.
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#229Note that the reason for airport mode is a courtesy to cell-phone carriers. It's not any air safety issue. Rather, 300-500 cell phones all trying to contact the next cell tower, multiple times per minute, would wreak havoc on cell service. https://www.inverse.com/article/51015-cell-phone-use-on-airp... At one point, when both cell phones and laptops were new, there was perhaps a risk to the airplane's electronics. Mo…
I once forgot to put my cell phone in airplane mode during a flight from London to SFO (and didn't use my phone during the flight). I was rather alarmed to see a flood of text messages from my carrier welcoming me to Iceland, Canada, and the US upon my landing.
Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage
#230Yeah - whatever Germany - still going to do it