Apple is benefitting from airlines’ recent mishaps as travelers flock to AirTags to keep track of checked luggage.
Key Details
- Apple AirTags are the third most popular electronic item on Amazon, jumping up nine places in two weeks.
- Searches of “Apple air tags for luggage” and similar terms have grown more than 5000% over the past year, according to Google Trends.
- The boom in popularity for the tags comes as customers want to be able to track their baggage in airports as many airlines have been flooded with unclaimed baggage.
- The tags are rising in popularity, and airlines aren’t too happy with them as fears grow that the items could interfere with plane technology.
Why it’s news
Many airlines recently suffered a big surge in unclaimed baggage as a winter storm swept through the U.S. over the holiday season.
Flights were being canceled left and right, and bags were not where they were supposed to be, leaving many airlines in disarray, but one winner came out of the disaster—Apple.
Apple hit the jackpot with the baggage trouble as many customers flocked to websites and stores to purchase Apple AirTags to attach to their luggage with hopes of tracking their bags.
The AirTags are small devices that send out a location signal allowing people to keep track of personal items, including luggage. The tags are now the third most popular electronic item on Amazon, jumping up nine places in two weeks.
Many flyers have been able to locate their bags with the tags, causing many to purchase the tech to keep track of their belongings.
Airlines aren’t too happy about the influx of AirTag purchasing due to fears that the device will interfere with airplane technology. AirTags use the same technology as cellphones to allow tracking services which could interfere with technology.
Many airlines have been asking for regulations for the tags to ensure they do not interfere with the systems, and it is possible the tags could be banned from airlines in the future.