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Save/ShareYou sprinted to the gate and just caught that connecting flight. But did your baggage come with? London Heathrow's six-month trial of radio-tagging technology could turn such fears of lost luggage into an inconvenience of the past.
Nine Emirates counters at Heathrow will use radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, equipped with silicon chips and antennas, to encode a passenger's name and route. The tags will track 50,000 bags each month on flights traveling to and from Dubai via Heathrow. If all goes as planned, the wireless technology will read bags with an accuracy of 95 to 99 percent, according to the International Air Transport Association.
For passengers, the technology will increase reliability. While traditional baggage tags can crease or become wet in transit, the less damage-prone radio tags won't rely on barcodes or line of sight. (With traditional tags, the barcodes need to be upright so that the scanners can read them; the chips don't have this problem because they are read wirelessly.)
The wireless technology can read hundreds of tags per second and nearly eliminates misreads—upping the chances of a bag making even a tight connection. (According to SITA, about 94,000 bags across the world were mishandled every day last year).
Although only a handful of airports across the world currently use RFID (Hong Kong was the first to do so in 2005), the technology could be enhanced to include more extensive route details if proven successful. What does that mean for us? In a couple years, you may not have to worry about buying a new set of underwear after making a tight connecting flight. Ah, technology.
Do you think RDIF tags will help you from losing your luggage in transit?
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ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB Vagabondish blogs about the RFID technology for luggage.
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I definitely think this new tech will help frequent travelers avoid the nuisance of lost luggage. Thanks for the heads up, BT!
Posted By Saba on February 25, 2008, 3:00 PM
Hi, another alternative is to sign up with a service that will help you out when your baggage/luggage is lost. I'm signed up with http://www.globalbagtag.com and I love it!
Posted By Janet on February 25, 2008, 9:22 PM
As a frequent flyer, I'm really curious to see how all this pans out. Thanks for the info!
Posted By Archana on February 26, 2008, 10:18 AM
I'd be interested to see if this system actually works. Sometimes technology can hurt rather than help. Maybe that's why America still doesn't have those electronic toilets like they use in Japan...food for thought though. well put article.
Posted By Dr. Rashid on February 26, 2008, 1:29 PM
Using rfid technology for luggage tags is an excellent idea. This is the same technology stores use for security at their entrances. As you pass through the two posts by the door, any security tags on items are read whether they are visible or not. Having luggage go through a similar process would be so much more efficient than scanning bar codes. A bar code that isn't visible simply doesn't get read.
The hold up on rfid tags has been the cost. Printing bar codes is cheap. Rfid cost has come down but I still wouldn't bet on US airlines jumping on board with this any time soon.
John
Posted By john on February 27, 2008, 11:56 AM
I never had a problem with
lost luggage. A late uncle
of mine had,and he found it
was a horrendus experience
for him.I think having radio tagging of luggage is
a good idea helping prevent
baggage loss.
Posted By George Kaminsky on March 7, 2008, 11:08 AM
Well written article. The luggage situation will only get better, this should be implemented across the U.S. as well.
Posted By Mr. Sister on April 7, 2008, 10:15 PM