With holidays booked for many of us this summer, more and more people have been following social media trends that promise to make travelling as stress-free as possible.
But one pilot-approved viral hack that uses an AirTag to help avoid lost luggage could in fact have the opposite effect, experts at Travelbag have warned.
Popular TikTokers, The Pilot Twins, have shared a video showing how putting an Apple AirTag in your check-in luggage could save you from losing it while travelling, thanks to the device’s handy tracking feature.
However, travel experts have warned against using this pilot-approved travel hack.
Experts from Travelbag said: “While this hack is done with the best intentions, the tracking abilities of Apple AirTags and other GPS tracking devices are not always suited to air travel.
“This could leave passengers feeling a false sense of security when leaving their luggage in the hold.
“Overall, while tracking devices in your luggage may work if you are in close proximity, if you are travelling longer distances, then they may not.
“To avoid being without your precious items this year, make sure to take any important objects in your hand luggage to avoid them getting lost.”
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They added: “Not all countries allow Apple AirTags to track within their airspace due to their individual data laws, meaning that this well-intentioned hack may no longer work when you arrive at your destination.
“In popular destinations such as South Korea, Apple tracking is not enabled. So, any AirTag will not be updated once you enter the country by air.
“As a result, if a passenger loses their luggage in the country, it cannot be tracked by an Apple AirTag. So, travellers must take extra care of their luggage to ensure it is not lost.”
Major change to UK passport fees
In its original announcement, the government said the new prices needed to be approved by Parliament as it released the proposed prices.
Here are the new prices:
Standard online application:
- For adults – £102 (up from £94.50)
- For children – £66.50 (up from £61.50)
Standard postal application:
- For adults – £115.50 (up from £107)
- For children – £80 (up from £74)
A Premium Service (one day) application made from the UK will cost £239.50, up from £222.
A standard online application that’s applied for from overseas will cost £116.50 for adults (increased from £108) and £75.50 for children (up from £70).
If you apply from overseas for a new standard passport by post, you can expect the price to jump from £120.50 to £130 for adults and from £82.50 to £89 for children.
