Alaska Airlines has become the first airline in the United States to launch an electronic bag tag programme, enabling passengers to tag their luggage through the airline’s mobile app before arriving at the airport.
This programme was announced in July 2022 and is now being rolled out to 2,500 Alaska Mileage Plan members.
Charu Jain, Senior Vice-President of Merchandising and Innovation for Alaska said:The last thing our guests want to do is stand in line. With the addition of the Alaska Airlines electronic bag tag our guests can complete almost all of their check-in tasks from the comfort of their home, at work or on the way to catching their flight.
The electronic bag tags are three-by-five-inch devices which can be updated with a guest’s flight information through the Alaska Airlines mobile app. The software for this process is provided by BAGTAG.
This system allows travellers to head straight to bag drop when they arrive at the airport, which is estimated to reduce the time spent in airport lobbies by about 40 percent.
Alaska Airlines has made strong claims about the devices’ lifespan and durability, having tested them by running them over with a truck. In addition, they don’t require charging or batteries.
Jain said:We’ve tested our electronic bag tags on countless flights across the country, including international routes where Alaska Airlines flies, and the devices have performed exactly as they’re meant to. We’ll collect feedback from our first wave of users before the devices become available to purchase to all our guests early next year.
