In a sea of checked bags, the $29 Apple AirTag is my holiday hero
After waiting in vain for over 40 minutes for one of my checked bags from a holiday ski trip to come off the belt and onto the luggage carousel at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) this week, things were starting to look bleak.
The bags had stopped coming down, partly because the carousel was so full it was continually backing up.
Fellow passengers worked together, unloading bags onto the floor and playing a real-life game of Tetris with the ones still on the carousel in an effort to keep things moving.
Eventually, after an uncomfortably long pause in any luggage progress, an announcement came over the speaker saying if your bags weren't at the assigned carousel for your flight, go check another one.
What wasn't expressly said over the intercom but felt implied from the scene all around was that they could be anywhere. Or nowhere.
My bag certainly wasn't alone in its zigzagged journey home.
Related: TPG's favorite carry-on luggage
AirTags were heroes of the holiday travel season
The number of delayed and canceled flights over the holiday travel period justifiably caught headlines, but where there are stranded passengers, there are also likely to be piles of stuck-in-limbo checked bags.
And indeed, over the last few weeks, there has been no shortage of stories of checked bags that are anywhere but where they are supposed to be.
This has certainly happened before with other airport and airline meltdowns. Only this time, many travelers (myself included) were ready and had a not-so-secret weapon to find the bags themselves: AirTags.
Apple AirTags, which retail for $29 each or $99 for a pack of four, can keep tabs on the location of everything from your keys to your checked bag to even your cat.
They were first released in 2021 but ramped up as a must-have frequent flyer tool in 2022, largely thanks to the stories and photos of piles of unclaimed luggage at some airports.
And while many airlines have pretty sophisticated ways to track bags in their system and share that information with the traveler, sometimes the AirTag knows best, as was the case for recent traveler Valerie Szybala.
Szybala garnered over 22 million views on Twitter with her tweets about her missing checked bag that was pinging at a seemingly random apartment complex instead of where the airline told her it was.
According to the AirTag, and her tweets, Szybala's bag had a multinight sleepover at that apartment complex and even went out to eat at a few restaurants.
Eventually catching the attention of the airline and news crews, that bag and its owner were eventually reunited. Szybala is convinced the AirTag (and going viral as a result) are the only reasons the story had a happy ending.
As for my own checked bag full of ski clothes and gear, an AirTag I had placed inside before the flight also played an important role in our reunion. Thanks to the AirTag, I knew the bag had made it on our flight and landed in Houston.
Even after a frustrating hour in baggage claim, I knew it couldn't be that far away. While the AirTag, unfortunately, wasn't updating its exact location in real-enough time to help me ping it among the piles of luggage, knowing it was at the right airport kept me from throwing in the towel.
Eventually, I found my bag on the floor among dozens of others like it beside a baggage carousel that had nothing to do with my original flight.
I have no way of knowing if it had been sitting there for five minutes or the whole time I was waiting. However, knowing I was close to finding it thanks to the AirTag kept me searching until that bag and I eventually headed home together.
Related: How to track your checked luggage with Apple AirTags
Best $29 travel investment you can make
Sometimes carrying on all your luggage isn't possible, as was the case with our ski trip. The best thing to do to increase the odds that you and your things will meet again is to toss an AirTag in the bag before you hand it over to the airline.
Of course, most bags make it where they are supposed to be, but some inevitably don't.
This is especially true when an airline experiences an operational meltdown affecting thousands of flights and untold numbers of bags, which also causes ripple effects even on flights and airlines that otherwise have pretty normal operations underway.
While airlines and even some popular credit cards offer reimbursement in the event of lost and delayed bags, I personally want to go home with the stuff I left with.
At just $29 and measuring in at roughly the size of a quarter, an AirTag is a perfect tool to help with that job and a small price to pay for some pretty hefty peace of mind.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.