We’ve had mishandled baggage on Hawaii flights too many times to take it lightly. On one trip, the luggage ended up in another country, while it has been more than once that airlines have delivered the mishandled baggage to the office in Hawaii days later.
We’ve tried using Apple AirTags and Tile products as well. And those can still play a nice adjunctive role. One of our Beat of Hawaii readers, Honey W. used this technology in Europe. She was told all the luggage was off the plane, and hers was not among them. Using Apple AirTags, Honey had photographic evidence that her bags were just off the left wing of the plane. The agent checked further and suddenly found them.
This luggage status feature we first saw on Delta years ago.
It has since improved, and we have now experienced it on United, has been great for reassurance that checked bags made it to Hawaii along with us.
The way this works is that your bags get scanned following a bar code being attached at checking. At each step in the process, from loading on the plane, off-loading, and on the conveyor belt, it’s great to now wait and wonder where are the bags.
To our knowledge only, American, Delta, and United have implemented this technology.
Southwest is late to the party but just arrived on Hawaii flights, too.
When BOH editors flew from Hawaii to Nashville in July, there was a huge lost baggage problem at BNA with an incredible number of checked bags just sitting. This resulted from a summer issue of compounding flight cancellations and delays. It was reported that some of the bags were in the wrong cities, states, or even countries. Somehow, luckily, our flight was unaffected, and the baggage arrived normally. Whew.
Southwest just announced that it is now providing “the ability for Customers to track checked bags throughout their journey—from takeoff to landing.”
The future of bag tracking is universal.
A larger network including all airports and airlines is envisioned by IATA and others.
What about Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines bag tracking?
We aren’t aware of any initiative from either airline that would provide bag tracking. But, there are checked bag developments to report nonetheless.
Alaska Airlines Electronic bag tags.
Alaska said, “We are excited to be the first U.S. airline to use electronic bag tags, allowing our guests to skip the step of printing traditional bag tags at the airport. We anticipate that our electronic bag tags will be available for purchase in the Fall of 2023.” Guests pay $30 for the first bag, and $40 for the second, but these are reusable.
Bag delivery guarantees are also useful.
Both Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines have bag check guarantees. And we have had the opportunity to take advantage of both of them.
Alaska says, “If your bags are not at baggage claim within 20 minutes of your plane’s arrival at the gate, we’ll offer you a $25 discount code for use on a future Alaska Airlines flight, or 2,500 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™ bonus miles.”
Delta says, “If your checked bag doesn’t arrive at the carousel in 20 minutes or less after any domestic flight, you are eligible to receive 2,500 bonus miles. Their form can be completed online while we have had to ask Alaska representatives for a voucher.
I recommend that this world needs to get back to quality. I was raised to do my job well, respctable, almost perfect. You did not see the mistakes that one sees now. I have to double check everything in my daily life. Now we have to pay in order to get something done correctly. Our luggage should not be lost, period! I should not have to track my luggage, flight times, seat assignments, etc. I should not have to check every receipt for proper pricing. I should not have to pay more because people can’t put their phones down while working, driving, etc……list gos on.
I love my AirTags! I haven’t had any lost luggage in many years, fortunately, but the AirTags still provide a level of comfort. I almost always fly American, and their system does a good job of tracking, so that’s double the info. Plus, it’s easy to check the AA app on my phone to see where my luggage is.
I like the idea of an electronic bag tag, but from experience (as an overseer of BHS systems) the bag handlers don’t GAF about your bag because they are held to a timeline. Somehow, someway, these tags will eventually rip off and unless your bag has a good identification tag, it will most likely be lost forever. Maybe it should be built into the bag…..😁 like a pet chip
American uses the technology and is usually very good at it but on one trip into Seattle my bag was scanned coming off of the plane never to be seen again by me. A thorough search was done but wherever the thief put it was beyond where anyone could find it. 10 days in the same shoes was really not fun at all and upon my return from my cruise the American baggage worker on duty gave me all of the information that I needed, as well as a few personal suggestions about how to get the full value of my luggage back. About 4 weeks later I did indeed get a check for that amount but I absolutely followed his suggestions about filing my claim.
Would you mind sharing details of the advice from the agent for others, who may get into the same situation?
you can track bags on united airlines too.