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In its latest iOS update, Apple said it expanded the functionality of the "Find My" feature to enable users to share item locations with other people, and soon, with third party vendors. That means travelers will soon be able to send location data directly to airlines when their bags go missing, if they are linked to an Apple device.

“Find My is an essential tool for users around the world to keep track of and find their belongings,” Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, said in a statement. “The Find My network and AirTag have proven to be a powerful combination for users while traveling, providing invaluable location information when bags have been misplaced or mishandled. With Share Item Location, we’re excited to give users a new way to easily share this information directly with third parties like airlines, all while protecting their privacy.”

The Share Item Location feature is now widely available as part of the latest iOS beta, and should be fully rolled out to most newer-generation iPhone users soon.

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In the coming months, more than 15 airlines – including Delta and United – will be able to view shared item locations.

The Department of Transportation recently finalized implementation of refund rules that include a mandate for airlines to refund checked bag fees for lost and delayed luggage. The new Find My feature could help carriers avoid paying those refunds, and allow travelers to be reunited with their belongings more quickly when something goes wrong.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].