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by gyozaking
4998 days ago
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This glorifies the bag tag a little too much. The bag tag is part of a solution that is only as good as the information supporting it. Airlines are still running archaic backend systems (e.g. systems from the 70's in some cases) & error-prone human processes that simply do not reliably collect and deliver proper baggage information to baggage systems. You would be shocked by the percentage of bags that cannot be processed because the baggage messages are simply not recieved (nevermind format errors, missing fields, etc.). RFID solutions only improve read rate and tracking while the bag is on mechanical equipment, but do not address issues with manual handling at various other steps (e.g. moving bags from delivery piers to carts, and then to planes). And RFID does not address the information quality problem. That's partly why RFID has only been implemented in a handful of airports (e.g. HK & one of Milan's terminals) despite being feasible for a decade. To truly reduce baggage losses, airlines & airports need to work together and implement multiple solutions that track and improve performance end to end - for all automated and manual processes. Disclosure: I worked on designing & enhancing baggage systems for a common-use airport that is consistently ranked in the top 10 by awards (e.g. http://www.worldairportawards.com/). |
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I work with RFID in a totally different field (race timing) really sympathize with you here. We give racers tags to wrap around their ankles, and our systems will all work perfectly, and then we get people complaining because the race results have them coming across the finish line in the wrong order. 9 times out of 10, it's because they wore somebody else's tag.
I suppose if somebody slaps a sticker on a bag saying "send this to Sydney" when it's supposed to go to Calgary, it really doesn't matter how high tech that sticker is.