A new electronic tag for air passenger luggage could reduce long queues at airport check-in.
Air France-KLM said it has developed two gadgets which will go on trial shortly.
An eTag will allow passengers to tag their baggage at home by entering their flight details online. Once at the airport, the luggage can be left at a “fast drop” point.
This could eliminate the need to go to a check-in desk where suitcases are labelled.
A separate GPS device, dubbed the eTrack, will also allow the owner to trace their bag’s exact location in the event it is lost or misplaced by airport staff.
If the trial is a success, the eTag could replace current luggage labels, forming instead a permanent electronic label which can be updated with every flight.
Passengers can wirelessly upload the information via their smart phone so that details stored on the tag, such as flight number, update automatically.
The eTrack, which goes inside the suitcase, responds to ‘pings’ sent by a computer used by either the passenger or the airline. It will then disclose its precise location.
It is not yet known what the devices will cost. Air France-KLM said it wished to create a product that could be used by all carriers.
