Lufthansa is telling passengers to turn off AirTags in their checked luggage, rendering them useless, report says

The hardware used to keep track of bags is useless if passengers are told to switch off the tracking devices.

The German airline was treating the tags, such as Apple's AirTag, as electronic devices similar to phones and laptops, meaning their batteries would need to be removed prior to flying, according to a local publication.

It is not possible to keep track of the luggage during a journey.

The dangerous goods regulations for carriage in airplanes issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization apply to baggage trackers.

If they are in checked baggage, the trackers must be used the same way as cell phones, laptops, tablets and other electronic devices.

During the summer of travel chaos where thousands of bags were lost, the Apple AirTag became a lifesaver for passengers.

Some passengers were able to use their tags to find out where their luggage was located, while an Apple AirTag helped track a lost bag to an airline worker's home, who was subsequently charged with theft.

The airport doesn't have a ban on AirTags, and they typically wouldn't be removed from luggage, according to a statement from a spokesman.

The airport abided by the guidelines of each of its airlines and suggested that active trackers be removed from bags destined for a flight.

The baggage act is dealt with by my colleagues according to the airlines' specifications. The airline decides what is and is not allowed on the plane.

Insider asked for comment made outside normal working hours.