I don’t trust airlines with my things. There, I said it! As a carry-on only traveler for over a decade, I like to know where my luggage is at all times, and it makes me nervous to drop it off and hope for the best. Airline apps have tracking for checked luggage, but it doesn’t transfer if you need to change airlines, even on the same reservation. Thankfully, we have things like the Tile and Apple AirTags. But, do they work in checked luggage? We’ll find out together!

*Note: This is not a sponsored post, and I have received nothing in exchange for the information here. These are my true experiences and recommendations!

Activation

Sometimes, things like this are not easy to activate or start up. The Apple AirTag was shockingly easy to figure out, though. So, it made a good first impression. All you have to do is take the plastic wrapping off and pull it out of the device, put it next to your phone with bluetooth enabled, and follow the prompts. That’s it! It took less than a minute.

Keep reading: The Right Way to Plan Your Travel Wardrobe

What to Do with It

So, it’s activated, now what? I keep mine in my luggage, but you can use it however you want. Keep track of your purse, keys, backpack, wallet, bike, car, etc. Whatever you need to keep track of, you can put an AirTag on or in it! You can put the AirTag directly where it goes, or if you need to fully attach it (such as, to a key ring or on your bike), you can get a silicone AirTag holder. I got one with a keyring on it so I can attach it as needed. There are even flat holders the size of a credit card that can fit into your wallet.

Read next: The Pros and Cons of Traveling with Checked Luggage

Tracking

So, I did a little experiment when I first received my AirTag. My husband was jetting off on a business trip without me, so I asked if I could put it in his backpack and see how well it worked on a trip. He agreed, of course, and I got to lovingly track him the whole time he was gone. It did not work in the air (and it’s not meant to), but I could see it when he boarded the plane, and when he landed at his destination. It also updated on his drive from the airport, and at his hotel, so I never lost track.

For tracking checked luggage, the important thing is that it gets on the same plane as you, and lands where you land. If you check a bag with an airline, it will make its way to your final destination with you. You can usually track this in the airline’s app, but only as far as you go with that airline. If you’re making a connection on a different airline, your tracking information won’t translate. This is an example where your own tracking device will come in handy!

Want a real life example? I had to check a piece of luggage for our trip to Egypt, and I was a little nervous about it because we had to make two connections, one in Munich, Germany, from United Airlines to Austrian Air, and another in Vienna, Austria, also on Austrian Air. I noticed in the United app that the system never updated past Munich, so I had to assume my luggage stayed there, too. But when we arrived in Cairo, it was there at baggage claim! I’m glad it wasn’t lost, but I would have preferred having an AirTag inside for tracking the whole way!

More here: Everything You Need to Know about Travel in the Shoulder Season

Get Yours

I definitely recommend sliding an Apple AirTag into all your checked luggage (get a deal when you buy this four-pack!), or anything else you need to track in your travels or everyday life. They are about $30 each, and you can find them at Apple Stores, Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Amazon. You can also find AirTag cases on Amazon as well (here’s a four-pack!). They even have one the size of a credit card for your wallet.

Also helpful: The Most Common Packing Mistakes (and how to avoid them!)

Want more? Get all the best gear recommendations and packing hacks on my dedicated Packing Page!

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