Trakdot luggage tracker
Airlines lose bags all the time. Last month I spent several days in the US without any luggage – it’s incredibly annoying!
A new device might help travellers with this problem (nearly 26 million bags get misplaced every year by airlines!). The gadget called the “TrakDot” fits in the palm of your hand and is very light. Once you’ve registered your device you simply put it into your checked luggage and then you’ll be able to track your bag using the company’s location technology:
The luggage locator system delivers city-specific information on the whereabouts of checked baggage in real time. Even if the Trakdot protected bag does not reach the desired destination, passengers will still have the reassurance of knowing which city their luggage is in.
Once the device is registered on the Trakdot website and placed inside a checked bag, it will deliver location information directly to the user’s mobile phone or SMS device via text or email. Alternatively, travelers can track their luggage on Trakdot.com or use the free Trakdot Luggage app. An additional app alerts passengers as their baggage approaches on the carousel, making it easier than ever for them to find their bag.
“A recent passenger survey from the International Air Transport Association showed that 81% of travelers are interested in tracking their bags in real time,” explains CEO Harry Steck. “Trakdot Luggage empowers travelers to do just that, with a revolutionary product that is inexpensive as well as simple and convenient to use.”
According to the official release it will be available from March 2013 for $49.95 MSRP with an activation fee of $8.99 and an annual service fee of $12.99. I’d assume they’ll ship worldwide, but their website isn’t online yet! (Yeah – they put out a press release linking to a non-existent website – doh!)
This sounds like the kind of device that I could really use so I’d be very keen to try this out – I’m sick of my bags vanishing into the ether!
About the Author: Michele Neylon
Hahaha! When the shit goes down… :)
@blacknight @mneylon I imagine airlines wouldn’t be too happy with live RF devices in baggage…
Interesting idea. Two thoughts:
How do you disable the radio for FAA compliance?
Knowing the location of your luggage may or may not help you get it back. There was one episode in the late 90s where I knew my luggage was buried in O’Hare. Even the team of United employees confirmed this. Still took me 2 days to get it back.
I’m not sure that being able to tell the airline where exactly your bag is will necessarily accelerate its return to you :-)
it disables itself automatically based on the altitude
It can accelerate, as you can react and notify them where to send the information and look for it. That was my case at DCA as they didn’t have any idea where my luggage was.
damn it, i’m flying in 6 days already. i would have needed this before :)
Cian Davis when the airline has absolutely no idea where your bag is for 3 or 4 days everything helps! When AF lost my bag a few weeks ago they literally did not know which country or airport it was in ..
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But what will I do with all the crystal balls I have been selling to the Lost Luggage departments?
That’s actually pretty cool and the price is reasonable. I wonder if it will work internationally or put better what the limits are. And will it work in Denver — it says it shuts off at a certain altitude, Denver airport 5400 feet (ok that was meant humorously.)
It might also give some peace of mind that your bag is still inside an airport at all and not heading down a highway in someone’s car.
That’s usually my first thought when a bag is missing, that someone either accidentally took my bag or stole it. Very few airports seem to make any effort to prevent this at the carousels.
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