After Lufthansa released contradicting statements regarding the approval of Apple AirTags' safety on flights, the government pointed out that there is nothing to worry about with the tracker.
(Photo : PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Airline passengers, some not wearing face masks following the end of Covid-19 public transportation rules, wait at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint to clear security before boarding to flights in the airport terminal in Denver, Colorado on April 19, 2022. - Mask mandates on public transportation are no longer in effect following a ruling by federal judge on April 18, 2022.
Airline passengers, some not wearing face masks following the end of Covid-19 public transportation rules, wait at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint to clear security before boarding to flights in the airport terminal in Denver, Colorado on April 19, 2022. - Mask mandates on public transportation are no longer in effect following a ruling by federal judge on April 18, 2022.
FAA Approves AirTags
A report from Engadget stated that the Federal Aviation Administration is allowing Apple Airtags on checked baggage as there is nothing harmful with it during flights. FAA clarified that any trackers with under 0.3 lithium battery are safe for flying.
"Luggage tracking devices powered by lithium metal cells that have 0.3 grams or less of lithium can be used on checked baggage. Apple AirTags meet this threshold; other luggage tracking devices may not," FAA stated.
Apple AirTags are safe from these limits as it only contain 0.1 grams of lithium, The Points Guy confirmed.
Lufthansa's Take
FAA clarified the issue after Lufthansa released statements that confuse the public regarding their take on Apple AirTags and whether it is safe or not.
As per the German carrier in their first statement, these trackers will be banned during flights as they forbid any lithium-powered tracker that can not be turned off, according to released guidance of the International Civil Aviation Organization. They also cited on Twitter that it was considered "dangerous goods" due to their transmission function.
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. /Ana
— Lufthansa (@lufthansa) October 9, 2022
Two days after that statement, Lufthansa Spokesperson Martin Leutke stated that AirTags will not be banned as there are no policies issued by them prohibiting baggage trackers, based on a report from Airways Magazine.
He added, "The Lufthansa Group has conducted its own risk assessment with the result that tracking devices with very low battery and transmission power in checked luggage do not pose a safety risk. We have never issued a ban on devices like that. It is on the authorities to adapt regulations that right now limit the use of these devices for airline passengers in checked luggage."
Also Read: Lufthansa is NOT Banning Apple AirTags on Flights in People's Luggage-People Are Now Confused
Apple's Statement
The New York Times reported that Apple clarified that AirTags are safe as they are compliant with international airline travel safety regulations both for carry-on and checked baggage. Several flights permit Bluetooth Low Energy, which is what the trackers have. These are the same technology used for wireless headphones.
They added that AirTags use CR20302 coin cell batteries. These batteries are also used for watchers and key fobs, which is very common and not banned from flights. Adding to this, it was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and the International Air Transport Association.
Related Article: Apple AirTags Help in Recovering $16,000 Worth of Stolen Goods from Airport
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Written by Inno Flores
