Alaska Airlines Launches Electronic Bag Tag Program

Alaska Airlines is the first airline in the United States to offer an electronic bag tag program.

The airline said that at least 2,500 Alaska Mileage Plan members would receive their electronic bag tag this week. Guests who have traveled in the last year and checked in at least one bag are included in the first wave of the program.

The three-by-five-inch devices are updated with a guest's flight information through the airline's mobile app during check-in so travelers can head straight to the bag drop area. The new bag tag program will reduce the time guests spend in airport lobbies by as much as 40 percent, shorten lines and save on paper bag tags. The devices don't need to be charged.

Guests will be able to purchase the electronic bag tag for any and all Alaska Airlines flights in the year 2023.

Charu Jain is the senior vice-president of merchandising and innovation for Alaska. Guests can complete almost all of their check-in tasks with the addition of the Alaska Airlines electronic bag tag.

"We've tested our electronic bag tags on countless flights across the country, including international routes where Alaska Airlines flies, and the devices have performed exactly as they're supposed to," said Jain. We will collect feedback from the first wave of users before the devices are available to purchase.

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