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Where is my luggage?

Geneva – A survey by the International Air Transport Association (Iata) found that about 61% of airline passengers are interested in tracking their luggage throughout their journey – similar to the way courier companies allow you to track parcels.

This is against the backdrop of a resolution coming into effect by 2018 which will require airlines to keep track of every item of baggage from start to finish. Tracking will have to take place at four key points, namely at passenger handover, aircraft loading, arrivals and transfers.

According to Andrew Price, head of Iata’s global baggage operations, the organisation will be working with the airline industry to measure the current tracking capability.

Price pointed out that airlines handle billions of bags each year and 99.35% of these bags handled end up having no handling issues at all.

“Nobody likes to worry about their bag and looking at the statistics there is little to worry about. However, although the individual chance of a bag being mishandled is low, there are billions of bags and, therefore, millions of mishandlings,” explained Price.

In 2015, for instance, there were  23.1 million mishandlings of bags.

“The impact of mishandling is also quite large. Not having your belongings for a trip is a big personal impact. This means that passengers still feel that baggage is an issue,” said Price.

“One common thing that passengers mention as allaying this concern is to have tracking of their baggage available. The decision to provide this information or not, however, still remains an airline prerogative.”

A survey shows that 26% of passengers would like to have their bag picked up from home and delivered to the airport, while 24% would like to be able to drop off their bags in locations other than at the airport. The survey also shows that 39% would like to use electronic baggage tags, saving hassle at the airport.

The survey shows that passengers would like the option of electronic baggage tags. The tags would be programmed through an airline’s mobile app and allow the passenger to arrive at the airport with their bag already tagged and ready to go.

Iata is working with a number of tag providers to ensure that these tags meet all the needs of the passenger and the airline, said Price.

One of the ways Iata is further assisting the industry regarding baggage issues, is to encourage data sharing so that airlines are able to have a common view on all baggage processes.

Price emphasised, though, that smarter regulation is needed to meet passenger baggage needs.

“Baggage has a world of regulations surrounding it, based on the history of aviation. Airlines and airports have invested millions to ensure bags

are safe for transport, but we still have outdated regulations around the carriage of the bag,” said Price.
He added that, despite technological innovations changing the baggage landscape, there seems to be little interest in the industry to leverage these for greater baggage handling efficiency.

* Fin24 is the guest of Iata at its Global Media Day.

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