Tracker cards are perfect for travel and used to keep track of checked luggage, carry-on bags, passport holders, laptop bags, backpacks and other important belongings while you are away.
They are are slim, rechargeable and work through the Apple Find My or Google Find Hub networks. This means they can help locate your belongings not only in Australia, but also while travelling overseas.
A question we sometimes get is if you can take a tracker card on an aircraft because it contains a small rechargeable battery. The good news is that aviation guidance specifically covers small Bluetooth baggage trackers, and you can generally carry them in both checked luggage and carry-on baggage.
Can you put a tracker card in checked luggage?
Yes. You can use Bluetooth baggage trackers inside checked luggage.
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) specifically includes “Baggage tracker - Bluetooth” in its current Pack Right guidance.
You can check the latest requirements directly through CASA's Pack Right. Safe Flight. guidance. CASA Pack Right. Safe Flight.
International aviation guidance also specifically recognises small baggage trackers. IATA states that AirTags and similar baggage tracking devices may remain active in checked baggage when they use low-energy Bluetooth and their lithium-ion battery does not exceed 2.7Wh.
SecurityBase and AusFindr Tracker Cards use a very small built-in rechargeable battery designed to power the Bluetooth tracker for months between charges.
This is very different from larger lithium battery products such as power banks, which are subject to different aviation rules.
Can you take a tracker card in carry-on luggage?
Yes. You can also keep a tracker card inside your carry-on luggage, backpack, handbag, passport holder or laptop bag.
For many travellers, using a tracker in both checked and carry-on luggage makes sense. You might have one card inside your suitcase and another protecting the items you keep with you throughout the journey.
Why are tracker cards good for travel?
One of the main advantages of a tracker card is its shape.
About the size of a bank card and around 1.8mm thick, it slides into places where a larger tracker may be less convenient.
Useful places to put a tracker card while travelling include:
- checked luggage
- carry-on luggage
- passport holders
- travel wallets
- laptop bags
- backpacks
- handbags
- camera bags
You can also use several tracker cards during the same trip and give each one a clear name in the app, such as Suitcase, Carry-On, Passport or Laptop Bag.
Do tracker cards work overseas?
Yes. This is one of the main reasons Apple Find My and Google Find Hub tracker cards are so useful for international travel.
Both systems use large crowdsourced networks of nearby devices to help locate compatible trackers when they are away from their owner.
Your tracker doesn't have to stay within Bluetooth range of your phone. When your luggage is elsewhere, participating Apple or Android devices that come near the tracker will securely update its location through the tracking network.
SecurityBase has a more detailed guide explaining how Apple Find My and Google Find Hub tracker cards work, including how nearby devices anonymously report your tracker's location. How does a Tracker Card work?
How can a tracker card help with lost luggage?
This is probably the most popular travel use for a tracker card.
Once you check in a suitcase at the airport, you normally have very limited visibility of where it goes until it appears again at your destination.
Putting a tracker card inside your luggage gives you an additional way to check where the bag has most recently been detected.
For example, you may be able to see whether your suitcase:
- is still at your departure airport
- has arrived at your destination
- has moved towards the baggage collection area
- appears to have travelled somewhere unexpected
If your luggage is delayed, this information can also be useful when speaking with the airline's baggage service.
The tracker complements the airline's own baggage tracking system by giving you another source of location information directly on your phone.
Can I put a tracker card in my passport holder?
Yes. A passport holder or travel wallet is another excellent place for a tracker card.
Because the tracker is flat and about the size of a bank card, it fits inside many passport wallets without adding much bulk.
If you misplace the holder nearby, you can also use Apple Find My or Google Find Hub to make the tracker card play a sound to help locate it.
Does a tracker card need a subscription overseas?
No. SecurityBase Tracker Cards use either Apple Find My or Google Find Hub, so there is no separate monthly tracking subscription or overseas tracker plan.
The card doesn't require its own SIM card or mobile data plan.
Your phone needs an internet connection to view location updates through Apple Find My or Google Find Hub.
Which tracker card do I need for travel?
The most important thing is choosing the tracker card that matches your phone.
For iPhone: Apple Find My Tracker Card
If you use an iPhone, choose the SecurityBase Apple Find My Tracker Card.
It connects directly to Apple's Find My network and can be viewed using the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
This is the straightforward choice if you use Apple devices and don't need Android compatibility.
View the Apple Find My Tracker Card
For Android: Google Find Hub Tracker Card
If you use an Android phone, choose the SecurityBase Google Find Hub Tracker Card.
It connects directly to Google's Find Hub network and lets you view the tracker's location through Find Hub on your Android device.
View the Google Find Hub Tracker Card
For Apple or Android: AusFindr dual network tracker card
If you want the flexibility to use either network, choose the AusFindr Dual Network Tracker Card.
AusFindr can be set up with either Apple Find My or Google Find Hub, making it useful if you might switch phones in the future or if your household has both Apple and Android users. The card connects to one tracking network at a time, so you select Apple Find My or Google Find Hub when setting it up.
View the AusFindr Dual Network Tracker Card
All three options are slim, rechargeable tracker cards designed for items such as wallets, luggage, bags and other belongings.
Where should I put the tracker in my suitcase?
You don't need to place the tracker somewhere visible. Its slim design makes it easy to put inside an internal suitcase pocket, zipped compartment, document sleeve or another protected location.
Keeping it inside the suitcase also helps protect the tracker from impacts during baggage handling.
Can I use more than one tracker when travelling?
Yes. Using several trackers can be useful if you travel with multiple bags or want to keep track of different important items.
For example:
- one tracker in your checked suitcase
- one in your carry-on
- one in your passport holder
- one in your laptop bag
Simply give each tracker a clear name in Apple Find My or Google Find Hub so you can immediately identify which item you are viewing.
Are tracker cards worth using for travel?
A tracker card is a simple addition to your travel setup that can give you considerably more visibility over where your belongings are.
It takes up very little space, has a small rechargeable battery, requires no monthly subscription and uses the Apple Find My or Google Find Hub network to help locate your belongings in Australia and overseas.
For checked luggage, it can help you see whether your suitcase has travelled with you. For a passport holder, laptop bag or carry-on, it provides another way to locate important belongings if they are misplaced.
Before your next trip, choose the version that matches your phone:
iPhone: Apple Find My Tracker Card
Android: Google Find Hub Tracker Card
Apple or Android: AusFindr Dual Network Tracker Card
For current Australian aviation requirements, CASA's Pack Right. Safe Flight. guidance is the best place to check before travelling. Check CASA Pack Right guidance
