SITA integrates Google´s location feature to speed up luggage retrieval

Passengers sharing their baggage location via personal devices is becoming a key element in airline baggage recovery. As more travelers choose to share their baggage location when it's delayed, airlines can use that information within their baggage systems to resolve cases more quickly and reduce outright losses. To support this shift, SITA has integrated Google's Find Hub feature into WorldTracer®, the global system airlines use to locate and reconcile delayed or mishandled baggage.

When a passenger chooses to share their baggage location, airline teams can view that information directly within WorldTracer® to assist in its recovery. This changes how airlines manage delayed luggage by adding an additional source of location information to help resolve the incident.

Traditionally, recovery relied on airport scans and data sharing between airlines. Passenger-authorized location sharing adds an additional source of visibility, helping teams narrow search areas and prioritize cases when a bag doesn't arrive as expected.

The process remains entirely under the passenger's control. If a piece of luggage is delayed, the traveler can generate a secure link in Find Hub and provide it to the airline. Sharing can be stopped at any time. The links expire automatically. Location data is encrypted, and only the passenger decides who can access it and for how long.

“Airlines operate in an environment where passengers expect visibility of their baggage at every stage of their journey,” said Nicole Hogg, Baggage Portfolio Director at SITA.

“When a bag is delayed, the uncertainty increases compensation costs, puts pressure on customer service, and raises reputational risk. What we’re seeing is a transition from manual tracking to clearer, data-driven recovery. When passengers choose to share their baggage location, airlines gain insights precisely when it matters most. This reflects how baggage recovery is becoming more transparent, more collaborative, and more accurate.” 

With this integration, passenger-authorized location sharing from the world’s most popular mobile platforms can now be incorporated into WorldTracer®. This news also reflects a broader industry movement toward more open and secure data sharing across the travel ecosystem. As airports, airlines, and technology providers work more closely together, reliable data sharing is becoming central to improving operational performance and the
passenger experience.

Over the past two decades, mishandled baggage fees have decreased by 67% even as passenger volume has more than doubled, according to the SITA 2025 Baggage IT Insights report. This reflects steady industry progress driven by smarter systems and better data utilization. As travel volumes continue to grow, the integration of passenger-authorized location data into airline systems reflects a broader trend toward clearer, more informed baggage retrieval processes that benefit both airlines and passengers. 

WorldTracer® is used by more than 500 airlines and ground handling agents at approximately 2,800 airports worldwide. By enabling secure location sharing across major consumer ecosystems, WorldTracer® supports a more connected and transparent approach to baggage recovery on a global scale.

Source: SITA.