Alaska Airlines’ New Bag Tag Program – An Answer to Luggage Delays?
Later this year, Alaska Airlines could be the first U.S. airline to launch an electronic bag tag program. The news comes on the heels of a recent increase in luggage delays. And queer travelers and drag queens are not in the mood for lost luggage. No one has time for that!
But Alaska Airlines’ program allows guests to tag their bags in just seconds and makes the entire check-in process easy and possible from the comfort of your own home or hotel. to do before heading to the airport.
“Not only will travelers with the devices be able to quickly drop off their luggage, but our electronic bag tags will help also reduce lines in our lobbies and give our employees the opportunity to spend more one-on-one time with guests who ask for assistance,” said Charu Jain, senior vice-president of merchandising and innovation for Alaska Airlines.
The electronic bag tags will allow guests to skip the step of printing traditional bag tags upon arrival at the airport. Instead, guests will be able to activate the devices from anywhere – their home, office, or car – up to 24 hours before their flight using the Alaska Airlines mobile app.
The activation is done by simply touching the phone used for check-in to the electronic bag tag, which has an antenna that powers and reads the information transmitted from the phone. The e-paper bag tag’s screen will then display the guest’s flight information.
Alaska Airlines is partnering with Dutch company BAGTAG on the electronic bag tag. The devices are equipped with durable screens that have been tested to withstand being run over a luggage cart and are affixed to baggage just like any other bag tag, using an industrial-strength plastic zip tie.
“Our electronic bag tags will not require batteries and are durable enough to potentially last a lifetime,” said Jain.
The rollout of the electronic bag tags will happen in several phases. The first phase will initially include 2,500 Alaska Airlines frequent fliers who will begin using the electronic bag tags in late 2022. Mileage Plan members will have the option to purchase the devices starting in early 2023.
The news of the new bag tag program comes at a time when luggage is stacking up at airports in Dublin, Amsterdam, London, Toronto, New York, Washington, DC, and other popular queer-friendly destinations. Passengers have taken to social media to voice their concerns over no updates after submitting online missing luggage forms online, or in some cases, no word about missing bags for more than two weeks!
The passengers’ luggage delays have been an issue since the beginning of summer as you can see from David Taylor’s tweet in June. He scans the baggage claim area after he landed at Heathrow Airport in London.
So, what is the reason for the mounting baggage issues? Airports and airlines, especially in Europe, don’t have the staff to handle the surge in passengers and their bags, according to NBC News
We can only hope that Alaska Airlines’ forthcoming bag tag program set a standard for all air carriers, but for now, here are a few pro travel tips to remember for your next holiday:
- Travel light with a carry-on. Avoid checking bags if you can.
- Drop an Apple Key Tag or tracker inside your bag so you can follow it on your phone.
- Put IDs outside and inside your bag.
- Take photos of your luggage just in case it’s lost.
