Radio Tags Could Mean Less Lost Luggage More Satisfied Travelers

Technology is finally catching up to keeping up with luggage. High tech baggage tagging is in use in Las Vegas and showing promise for reducing lost luggage. Later this summer, the board of governors of the International Air Transport Association will vote on mandating a phase in of the Radio Frequency luggage tags.

Airlines can use the tags to identify luggage, track the location of missing bags, and reduce lost luggage by approximately 20 percent. Last year, over 4 million of 700 million checked bags in domestic U.S. travel were mishandled.

Radio Frequency tags could save airlines money. Travelers could experience less lost luggage and smoother vacation and travel experiences. The International Air Transport Association has set world-wide standards so that airlines in various countries can read one another's tags. A UHF radio frequency has been secured.

The system reports a 99 percent accuracy rate in reading tags. Bar coded tags usually result in 80 to 90 percent accuracy. Bar codes are difficult to read if luggage tags are mutilated. Illegible coded bags, usually 10-20 percent of all bags, end up in a manual sort pile, many of which fail to make correct flights.

Las Vegas processes over 70,000 outbound bags daily. At ten percent, that's 7000 bags destined for manual sorting. Since the implementation of Radio Frequency tags, the manual sort total is down to about 700 bags daily.

Airlines have long considered using technology to track luggage but tag cost was prohibitive. With the cost of bar code tags at about 4 cents each, bar codes were much more affordable. The price of trackable tags has come down to as low as 15 cents each, making it a more viable alternative.

If radio frequency tags continue to come down in price, more airlines would use the technology. Radio-Frequency ID antennas are required in order to use the technology. The system can alert handlers if a bag is out of place and assist in finding bags that need to be located.

Radio Frequency technology won't cure all travel ills. But it could vastly improve current luggage handling. The International Air Transport Association suggests that airports purchase the radio receivers while airlines purchase the radio frequency luggage tags, thereby sharing the expense.

Airlines may or may not go for the idea. Many airlines are already having serious financial problems. Many components are in need of more cash flow, including equipment, crew and staff wages, and technology.

Time will tell if Radio Frequency Luggage tags are worth the expense and training. If issues of expense are agreeably worked out, there could be much less lost luggage and many more satisfied travelers.