Alaska Airlines Becomes The First Airlines In The US To Launch A Bag Tag Program For Passenger Luggage

Alaska Airlines has become the first airline in the United States to launch an electronic bag tag program. This program will allow the airline’s travelers to mark their baggage using the Atlanta Airlines mobile app before they reach the airport.  

The program was announced in July 2022 and has now been rolled out to 2,500 Alaska Mileage Plan members. According to the airline spokesperson, the electronic bag tag will be available for purchase to all travelers starting in 2023.

“The last thing our guests want to do is stand in line. With the addition of the Alaska Airlines electronic bag tag, our guests can complete almost all of their check-in tasks from the comfort of their home, at work, or on the way to catching their flight.” Charu Jain, Senior Vice-President of Merchandising and Innovation for Alaska, said.

Alaska Airlines will provide 2,500 Alaska Mileage Plan members with electronic bag tags. The elite status members included in the program's first phase are guests who have traveled with the airline in the last 12 months and checked in at least one bag. They were among the first to register for using the electronic bag tag device. 

The three-by-five-inch devices can be updated with the user's flight information with the Alaska Airlines mobile app. 

Alaska Airlines has become the first airline service in the United States to launch an electronic bag tag program. The software and hardware for the device come from BAGTAG, a Dutch company. 

Many leading international airlines, including Lufthansa, KLM, and China Southern, are using the electronic bag tag technology of BAGTAG.

Alaska Airlines has claimed that the lifespan and durability are indisputable as they have tested them in the most challenging situations using extreme methods such as running them over with a truck. The device does not require any charging or batteries.

The devices are attached to the passenger’s luggage using an integrated zip tie. Electronic bag tags are updated with flight information during check-in through the Alaska Airlines smartphone app. The most significant advantage of using the bag tag is that guests do not need to wait at any baggage checking counter or a computer kiosk at the airport. They can drop them at the designated location secured with an updated and activated electronic bag tag.

The electronic bag tags have been tested on countless flights across the country. They have also been tested on Alaska Airlines international routes. The test reports are extremely encouraging, with the devices performing to expected standards in every test conducted so far. The airlines also plan to collect feedback from the first set of users before making them available to all our guests early next year.