How Alaska Airlines will revolutionize baggage tags

Alaska Airlines on Friday became the first US airline to launch an electronic baggage tag program, which allows customers to tag their bags through the airline’s mobile app before they even reach the airport. .

Last week, 2,500 Alaska Airlines premium club members began receiving their e-tag. Elite status members included in the first wave of the program are guests who have traveled in the past 12 months, checked at least one piece of baggage, and were among the first to sign up to use the device.

” The first thing our customers want to avoid is queuing“said Charu Jain, senior vice president of merchandising and innovation for Alaska.

” With the addition of the Alaska Airlines Electronic Baggage Tag, our customers can perform almost all of their check-in tasks – from the comfort of home, at work, or on the way to their flight.. »

8×5 devices are updated with flight information via the Alaska Airlines mobile app upon check-in; essentially allowing travelers to walk straight to the baggage drop area once they arrive at the airport.

Alaska Airlines’ electronic luggage tag is estimated to reduce the time customers spend in airport concourses by around 40%, including reducing queues and using paper bag tags.

In addition to the device’s impressive lifespan and durability (Alaska Airlines employees tested it by rolling it around with a truck), the devices require no charging or batteries.

” We’ve tested our electronic baggage tags on countless flights across the country, including international routes where Alaska Airlines flies, and the devices have performed exactly as expected.“, said Jain.

” We will collect feedback from our first wave of users before the devices are available for purchase for all our customers early next year.. »

The Alaska Airlines electronic baggage tag will be available for purchase by all passengers beginning in 2023 and will work on all Alaska Airlines-marketed flights operated by Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air and SkyWest Airlines.

In addition to the hardware, the software for the device is provided by BAGTAG, a pioneering Dutch company in the field of technological solutions for luggage.