Lufthansa has reversed its decision to ban AirTags in checked baggage. The airline had initially stated that the devices posed a safety risk, but has since changed its mind after German Aviation Authorities confirmed that the trackers do not pose a risk. So, pack away those AirTags and track those bags with ease.
But wait a second…doesn’t that mean Lufthansa made a bit of a blunder here? Well, probably. But hey, at least they corrected it and are now allowing us to use our handy little trackers once again. And who knows, maybe they’ll even come in handy if our bags happen to get lost.
So, what happened exactly?
Lufthansa tweeted the following on October 9th: “According to ICAO guidelines, baggage trackers are subject to the dangerous goods regulations. Furthermore, due to their transmission function, the trackers must be deactivated during the flight if they are in checked baggage and cannot be used as a result.”
But AirTags can’t actually be turned off with a switch – the only way is by removing the battery. This obviously defeats the purpose of trackers like AirTags and similar Low Power Bluetooth devices.
After further review, Lufthansa tweeted on October 13th: “The German Aviation Authorities (Luftfahrtbundesamt) confirmed today, that they share our risk assessment, that tracking devices with very low battery and transmission power in checked luggage do not pose a safety risk. With that these devices are allowed on Lufthansa flights.”
As travelers, we can’t help to wonder if Lufthansa was trying to avoid taking accountability for all its misplaced bags or if they just truly believed AirTags were a safety risk. Either way, we’re happy to hear that our checked luggage will now be able to get the tracking it deserves.
So there you have it, folks – AirTags are once again allowed on Lufthansa flights in checked baggage.
Happy travels, fellow AirTag users!
Psst. Had issues with your luggage recently? Consider using an AirTag next time…just in case. Better safe than sorry.
We recommend using a service like AirHelp if you need help to get compensation for misplaced luggage.
