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Thursday Buzz: Digitizing Bag Tags in Airports and Beyond

Digital bag tags could help ensure that your baggage doesn't get lost. Plus: A free book to help event managers make their events even more engaging.

Imagine a bag tag that knows it’s on the right—or wrong—flight.

It’s not science fiction: New tracking tech is coming to baggage, and it could reduce the amount of lost luggage.

Airline Air France-KLM announced it will be adopting digital baggage-tag technology, releasing their own permanent tags later this year, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The small attachable device latches onto luggage and displays electronic labeling of flight information. Owners can see where their stuff is going through smartphone updates. The tags will also automatically update as travelers’ itineraries change.

“Home-printed and electronic bag tags are the low-hanging fruit for U.S. airlines,” Stephanie Taylor of Airlines for America told the Journal.

“We’re expecting multiple carriers to adopt these solutions by the end of the year,” said Taylor, who specializes in passenger services issues.

Air France-KLM is joining Qantas Airways, which has already introduced digital bag tags. The Journal reports that Brussels Airlines is also getting in on the action, along with companies eyeing partnerships with airlines.

This effort aims to meet a June 2018 deadline set by the International Air Transport Association, which is pushing airlines to improve baggage tracking.

Admittedly, there are some worries: The advocacy group Travelers United suggested to the Journal that the tags could negatively affect airport and airline workers’ jobs and could stop working during power outages or other disruptions. On the other hand, the group acknowledged that the tags could streamline and shorten travelers’ time in airport lines.

Although it may take a while for the service to reach the United States, Air France-KLM says it is working with Delta Air Lines, a partner. Hang in there, America.

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Other Links for Your Day

It’s Thursday. You’ve been putting off that dull, tedious assignment. It may be best to do it when you’re in a slump, Davis & Company CEO Alison Davis explains over at Inc.

Want people to read your email? Make the subject line weird. Lifehacker‘s Eric Ravenscraft cites a Copyblogger piece on how an odd or crazy subject line may get the reader’s attention.

Your organization just snagged some success. But how do you share it? Association Executive Management’s David M. Patt discusses how to do that in a classy way, by focusing on services.

(Handout photo)

Patrick deHahn

By Patrick deHahn

Patrick deHahn is a contributor to Associations Now. MORE

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