Alaska Airlines Rolling Out Electronic Bag Tags

Alaska Airlines wants to make the process of checking a bag easier. I think this is a cool idea, but I don't think it's possible to make customers pay for it.

Alaska Airlines will be the first airline in the US to offer electronic bag tags. The concept was tried out by the airline in 2016 but was abandoned.

The goal is for electronic bag tags to allow those checking bags to skip the step of printing traditional bag tags. Passengers will be able to load their bags up to 24 hours before departure.

How could that happen? By touching the phone used for check-in to the electronic bag tag, the information will be transmitted from the phone to the customer's bank account. The passenger's flight information will be displayed on the screen.

The passenger can just present their boarding pass and ID at the bag drop when they arrive at the airport. The time spent dropping off luggage will be reduced by 40%, according to the state.

The devices that are being used in other parts of the world are also being used by Alaska. The devices have screens that have been tested to resist being run over by luggage carts.

The process of checking a bag is shown in the video.

Charu Jain is the VP of merchandising and innovation at Alaska Airlines.

“This technology allows our guests to tag their own bags in just seconds and makes the entire check-in process almost all off-airport.”

“Not only will our electronic bag tags allow our guests to quickly drop-off their luggage after they arrive at the airport, the devices will also give our employees the opportunity to spend more one-on-one time with guests who ask for assistance and reduce lines at our lobbies.”

When will Alaska’s electronic bag tags roll out?

Alaska Airlines will not be giving away the electronic bag tags for free. What are the plans here?

• During the first phase in late 2022, 2,500 Alaska Mileage Plan members will be sent these tags, presumably as a trial phase
• During the second phase in early 2023, Alaska Mileage Plan members will be given the option to purchase these, for around $70 each

It's a steep price to pay for the privilege of not interacting with Alaska Airlines employees. If you were checking multiple bags, you would have to buy more than one of these if you wanted to.

I think it would be cheaper to produce these tags on a larger scale, but I don't think there's enough demand yet. You can't expect most airline customers to pay for an electronic bag tag, and that's not a cost airlines are willing to cover.

It is one thing if all airlines accepted these electronic bag tags, but it is quite another if you want to use them on one airline.

Bottom line

The electronic bag tags will be rolled out by Alaska Airlines. Eligible travelers will be able to skip the step of printing luggage tags with the help of these tags.

The cost is going to prevent this from being popular.

What do you think about these tags? Is it possible that you would pay for it?