Yet another use for tracking technology is to monitor where you checked baggage is when flying. Those who worry about lost bags must be in seventh heaven knowing these are available.
Considering I have flown hundreds of thousands of kilometres, I am probably in the prime target market for something like this. Let’s have a look at some of the options that are available.
GPS Trackers For Your Baggage
Having a quick look around on the Internet shows there are several companies offering something here. One is called LucLoc which stands for luggage locator, which you can see below.
This device contains a SIM card which connects to mobile towers to locate your bag. The first 30 days are free, then you pay US$4.99 a month for “more location tracking in the mobile app”. Whatever that means!
Another option for tracking is Trakdot, using “newly patented micro-electonics and ground-based cellular telephone technologies to track and report”. It doesn’t appear to be for sale any longer though.
A slightly different offering comes from Tile. These smaller Bluetooth trackers have a 91.5 metre range and seem to be small enough to add to things like sets of keys. I am not sure what benefit they have in finding luggage except to save a few seconds at a carousel.
Finally, there are trackers offered by Smart-Unit. These are touted as a “The 1st Anti-Theft Luggage tracker” and, like the Trackdot, diverts to Amazon for a purchase and is no longer for sale.
Overall Thoughts
Why would anyone want to buy any of these trackers? They scream total waste of money and appear to be trying to find a problem where one doesn’t actually exist.
Perhaps I am missing something, but the scourge of stolen and missing baggage hasn’t yet affected me to the point where I need to do something about it. In actual fact, the three or four times my bag has gone missing has resulted in it being couriered to me a few days later.
What do you think of these gadgets? Are they something that you would use or do use? If you have one, has it led to you getting a taxi to retrieve your stolen property from the thieves like some kind of action movie hero? Let me know! Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image via oneworld.
All other images via the product web pages.
While I wouldn’t pay for a tracker on a nonstop, domestic itinerary, I have an upcoming trip — 22 flights in 33 days, some with short interline connections to airports in Africa and the Indian Ocean — during which if an airline loses my bag, my knowing where it is will help me help them get it back to me more quickly.
Well, are you going to buy one for that trip then? If so, let me know which one you get and what you thought of it, as it would be interesting to have a live opinion from someone. Personally, I still wouldn’t do it, partly because I think the devices are gimmicks and partly because I could lose everything in my luggage and there is nothing I would be grieved about by losing it. Everything is replaceable and that’s why there’s travel insurance.
Interesting. If I flew more, I might try them. Wonder what happens when the xray in some luggage areas find the emitter though?
I doubt much would happen. At most they’d probably look inside the bag, but TSA do that enough as it is. Either way, I wouldn’t purchase any of these. Thanks for the comment!
I had Trackdot and it worked really well. I always got a text when bags were loaded, even in far-flung places, but then I let my membership lapsed. When I re-upped, nothing worked and then I got an email that said they could no longer use the technology and no refunds.
Interesting that it let you know that level of detail at the time. Some kind of regulation must have changed or they may have gone bust if it stopped so quickly. That’s poor when it comes to the refund though! Thanks for the first hand experience.
This here (https://www.bagid.com/) actually solves a problem. It gives you the bagtag digitally so you can go directly to bagdrop and not stand in line to get the tag.
In addition to that it has built in tracking so you know where it is.
Yes, I’ve seen something similar on a trial with British Airways. I remember it looked virtually the same as that, so it could well be the same product. Personally, I prefer the Qantas solution. They have RFID tags and their domestic network is all RFID enabled. Therefore you always have the same tag on your bag and the computers do the rest. Far simpler than the one you linked, however, not all airports are RFID enabled worldwide. Yet. Thanks for the comment!
But it doesn’t really solve a problem, does it? Should you get the bagtag digitally, you still have to stand in line to get to a counter to drop your bag. If there are self-service bag drops, there is no problem at all; usually there’s not much queuing to get a bagtag. These things claim to reduce paper waste, yet production of devices like this will cost valuable minerals, and probably a ton of CO2. A better solution would be for airlines to use recyclable paper. A while ago there was this thing regarding ‘smart’ suitcases, with e-screens built in… Read more »
With the RFID tags in Australia, you just go to self-service bag drop and do it yourself. It’s pretty quick and easy and there’s a roaming staff member to help out if you need them. I’ve only used it once and it was pretty great! You are correct though when it comes to the environment, as they probably aren’t easily recyclable either (though, that being said, all the Western countries seem to ship their crap abroad, adding to the CO2 issue from the transport alone, then the issues at the other end!). The paper tags are probably still the best… Read more »
same as keeping a cell phone on while in flight, airlines have any problem with this ?
At least one of them mention it goes into flight mode, though I have no idea how. I just wouldn’t recommend these at all – I was very surprised they existed. Thanks for the comment!