Jammed airports and planes this summer will inevitably mean
more checked suitcases, duffels and backpacks that don’t show up at baggage
claim.
Tight — some would even say unrealistic — flight schedules
and continuing staffing shortages put pressure on luggage management systems,
said Jamie Larounis, a travel industry analyst at Upgraded Points.
اضافة اعلان
Sometimes there just isn’t enough time to get luggage across
a large airport and onto departing aircraft.
“The slightest delay of a plane coming in can domino to the
next because bags can’t get from one to the other,” Larounis said.
Airlines and airports are developing new technology to help
those systems shepherd your bag through the conveyor belt maze quicker and more
efficiently.
SITA, an air travel technology company whose WorldTracer
system is in use at 2,200 airports globally, is teaming up on new initiatives.
Luggage rerouting
For example, it recently tested a system with Lufthansa to
automatically reroute luggage that missed its flight onto the next available
flight and let passengers know the new arrival time. That notification saves
passengers from having to go speak to someone in the arrival hall.
A system made by Siemens can read crumpled or partly
obscured paper tags. It’s being used at several airports in the United States
and internationally.
Bagtag, a Dutch company that makes electronic luggage tags,
is working with carriers including Alaska Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa and Swiss to
phase out paper tags in favor of e-tags, which could reduce mishandled luggage
because they’re made of durable plastic and are less likely to be mangled or
torn off.
Alaska Airlines is introducing electronic tags to 2,500
flyers now and plans to make them available for sale this fall.
Reunited at last
The good news is, nearly everyone is eventually reunited
with checked luggage. Last year, the vast majority made it back to their owners
without a hitch. Of the 470 million bags checked on U.S. carriers in 2022,
about six out of every 1,000 were mishandled (lost, damaged, delayed or
stolen), according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Only a tiny fraction of luggage is never reunited with its
owner, according to SITA — about one in 2,250 bags.
Tips for reducing lost luggage
So, what can you do to leave the baggage carousel with a
smile on your face this summer?
Arrive early so your checked bag has plenty of time to make
it to the plane. Fly nonstop, when possible, because every transfer increases
the chance of a mishap.
If you do need to change planes, don’t book a tight
connection. And make sure any previous bag tags and stickers are taken off.
Carefully choose the type of bag you check (if possible,
avoid the ubiquitous little black rolling bag, which can easily get mixed up at
baggage claim) and festoon it with ribbons, stickers or other flair to make it
easy to identify.
Pay close attention at the check-in counter: Make sure the
tag the agent attaches to your bag has the correct airport code. Never check
medication, jewelry, or other essentials or valuables.
Take advantage of your airline’s smartphone app, which may
offer luggage tracking capabilities. You can also place an Apple AirTag and a
card with your contact information inside the bag to help trace it in the event
it gets lost.
But say the worst happens and your baggage does not arrive
as expected: Make sure you fill out the claim form before you leave the
airport.
The Department of Transportation website lists the rules
that airlines must follow when baggage is delayed or goes missing, capping
compensation at $3,800 per bag.
Each airline has its own specific policies and procedures.
Check their websites.
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