When it comes to lost luggage, is technology going to save us?
High-tech baggage tags have been heralded as one solution to misplaced baggage, providing a back-up to airlines’ own tracing systems. Services such as Trace Me Luggage Tracker and I’m Honest allow travellers to identify bags and valuables with individually coded labels. Trace Me records owners’ details on a database accessible to airlines, police and other authorised agents. The barcode on the tag is scanned then the owner receives a phone call, SMS or email to say their luggage has been located.
Budget Travel magazine tested three such systems by deliberately leaving bags on planes, baggage carousels and in the back of New York taxis. It got mixed results, with five of the nine abandoned bags returned. All of the returned bags were those left on planes or in airports – the bags left in taxis disappeared without trace.
Copyright Jane E. Fraser
