I tested the new AirTag — here’s what happened when my bag went missing

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Apple recently released its second-generation version of the AirTag, and after testing it in a real-world travel scenario, I was quickly reminded why they are a must-have.

On a recent ski trip to Denver, I checked four bags, and every one of them had an AirTag inside. However, only one ski bag and one checked suitcase had second-gen AirTags attached. The rest still had the original AirTags I’ve been using for years.

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As expected, they all worked exactly as intended. Once the bags were checked, I could watch them move through the airport and eventually make their way onto the plane using the Find My app on my phone. If you’ve ever stood at baggage claim wondering whether your luggage actually made the flight, that visibility alone provides a surprising amount of reassurance.

But the most useful moment came when we landed in Denver. Two of my regular checked bags came out fairly quickly, but one suitcase was nowhere to be found. After watching the carousel loop the same bags over and over again, I started wondering if something had gone wrong.

But thanks to the AirTag, I knew my suitcase had made it onto the right plane and hadn’t been left behind in Boston.

I opened the Find My app and could see that my suitcase was still inside the airport — not on its way out of the airport with another traveler. That alone was reassuring. At least I knew the bag hadn’t been left behind or mistakenly taken by someone else — although I was still nervous that finding my suitcase was going to be a hassle.

Purchase the Apple AirTag (2nd Generation) at Amazon

About 10 minutes later, I discovered the reason for the delay: For some unknown reason, the suitcase appeared in the oversize luggage area instead of the regular baggage carousel.

It was a small moment, but it's a perfect example of why these trackers come in handy. Most of the time, everything goes exactly as planned — and the AirTag simply confirms that your luggage is where it’s supposed to be.

But when something unexpected happens, even something as simple as a bag appearing in a different baggage claim area, having that visibility can remove a lot of unnecessary stress.

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As I wrote back in January when the new version was released, the second gen AirTag is very similar to its prior version.

The biggest improvement is the increased Precision Finding range, which gives greater accuracy for finding items. Theoretically, it should make finding your luggage much easier, but since I didn't have two AirTags in my "missing" luggage, I couldn't compare the two. That said, the location did show my AirTag close by — which it was. Apple also claims that the updated design is harder to tamper with, although the external design didn't change at all.

The internal speaker is also 50% louder, which is noticeable when comparing the two. During my missing luggage fiasco, I did initiate the sound on my AirTag, but because the bag was not yet in the open baggage claim area, the chiming sound couldn't be heard.

If you don’t already own an AirTag, then yes — the second-gen AirTag is definitely worth considering. However, if you already have the original version and it’s working well for you, there may not be a strong reason to upgrade just yet.

The second-gen AirTag is available as a four-pack, bringing the cost down to about $25 per tracker. That said, if you’re trying to save a little money, the original AirTag can often be found at a lower price.

Either way, placing one in your luggage is a small investment that can provide valuable visibility when you travel — and that peace of mind is hard to put a price on.

Purchase the Apple AirTag (2nd Generation) at Amazon

Purchase the Apple AirTag (1st Generation) at Amazon

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