Smart Devices Put Luggage Tracking in Passengers’ Hands
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APEX Insight: New tools put luggage tracking in the hands of passengers, leveraging the connectivity technologies already in our smartphones.
Lost luggage remains a thorn in the side of the airline passenger experience, with nearly six bags per thousand passengers mishandled in 2016, according to SITA’s 2017 Baggage Report. Meanwhile, a new crop of luggage tracking products has emerged, enabling passengers to pinpoint wayward bags using their smartphones.
High-end luggage manufacturer TUMI has partnered with AT&T and tracking-tech company LugTrack to deliver the Global Locator. As the name suggests, the Global Locator helps passengers track luggage wherever it may stray, with a little help from GPS, Wi-Fi, GSM and Bluetooth connectivity. It also has Hotel Mode and Proximity Mode, which alert the owner if the suitcase moves from its expected location.
“The goal of the TUMI Global Locator is to make [the stress of lost luggage] a concern of the past, giving our customers a peace of mind and ensuring a more enjoyable travel experience,” said Rob Cooper, TUMI General Manager, North America. “TUMI’s Global Locator embodies all this with the focus on safeguarding our customers’ belongings.”
Global Locator is one of an emerging group of standalone devices that travelers can slip into their suitcases to connect them to the Internet of Things (IoT). LugLoc and Trakdot, both of which use GSM and Bluetooth, are vying for a spot in checked luggage. Each of these products require subscriptions for full connectivity. There’s also Tile, which was initially marketed as a tool to help locate lost keys or phones. Its Bluetooth connectivity makes it a handy short-range luggage tracker in a pinch.
Each connectivity type has its strengths and weaknesses. For example, while GPS connectivity doesn’t rely on mobile networks, walls and floors are its kryptonite: the accuracy suffers in big buildings, such as airports. Just as your phone works in the airport, so too will your luggage tracker, if it’s using GSM. However, pinging mobile towers doesn’t offer the accuracy of GPS or Bluetooth. Meanwhile, Bluetooth offers a high degree of accuracy, but only if your bag is within around 100 feet of your phone.
Airlines will be required to track passengers’ luggage as of next year, but it’s understandable that passengers want to monitor their property during a journey. Now there are several options to do so.