Can I put an AirTag on my dad’s keys but connect to my phone and track? Do I have to be close by to track its location? We live in separate places.
Can I track an AirTag on my dad’s keys if it’s attached to my phone but not near me?
You could, and you could track it on your Find My app - but be aware that one feature of AirTag is the alert it sends after a while when it is separated from its owner - which would be yourself if you set it up on your iPhone.
Apple addresses this on the AirTag page:
If someone else’s AirTag finds its way into your stuff, your iPhone will notice it’s traveling with you and send you an alert. After a while, if you still haven’t found it, the AirTag will start playing a sound to let you know it’s there.
Of course, if you happen to be with a friend who has an AirTag, or on a train with a whole bunch of people with AirTag, don’t worry. These alerts are triggered only when an AirTag is separated from its owner.