Slashdot Mirror
British Airways Set To Bring Luggage Tags Into the 21st Century
Zothecula writes "Most people would probably agree that air travel still has plenty of room for improvement, particularly when it comes to actually checking in and getting on the plane. For its part, British Airways is now taking steps to speed up the whole process on its end and is even testing a digital alternative to the traditional paper luggage tag. The airline recently produced an electronic luggage tag that travelers can update themselves with a smartphone and re-use over and over."
I'm a lot more worried about forged tags or rewriting tags to send bags other places.
One could steal luggage or could possibly redirect bags containing contraband, while the bag is already in-circulation and away from the passenger or courier, if there's a way to access the luggage tag via smartphone without having to physically touch or see the tag. The phone could be in the bag itself and could reprogram the tag remotely.
I simply do not trust an electronic system to be any more foolproof than a paper system, given the sheer number of infrastructure-grade compromised electronic systems. Being that, I don't see a reason to spend an inordinate amount of money on a new system that won't deliver any better results.
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
Qantas Frequent Fliers are given RFID tags for luggage tages. Results in very simply automatic loading onto conveyor belts where the tags are automatically picked up. The system results in extremely quick checkins - much quicker and smoother than any other airline I have ever flown. Its a brilliant system - however only works for domestic flights.
"Yes, I work in an Airport."
You may work in an airport, but your appeal to authority is not helping you now. Parent AC is right.
The Q Bag Tag is a permanent electronic bag tag designed to facilitate a faster and easier baggage check-in at domestic airports.*
There's no longer a need to attach a temporary bag tag each time you fly domestically - just drop your bags and go.
http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/q-bag-tag/global/en
They work fine, I've been using them for the past year or so.
"I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
So BA is making an electronic luggage tag ... and as some have pointed out, Qantas already has them.
Are they compatible? Will frequent flyers that use multiple airlines end up with 10 different electronic tags hanging off each piece of luggage?
A universal standard tag would seem a good idea...
We live, as we dream -- alone....
"Welcome to the 21st century...Qantas and a number of other airlines have already been doing this for some time, where is the news?"
With this one, you can see yourself on your smartphone that your luggage is in Guam instead of where you are.