Delta Air Lines has added a new feature to the luggage tracking service on its Fly Delta app, enabling passengers to receive push notifications tracking their bag’s progress throughout its journey on.
The US carrier is using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) luggage tags to transmit the location of each individual bag. Travellers will receive push notifications when their bag is loaded on and off each flight and when it reaches bag claim. These notifications let passengers know the flight’s code and destination, and which carousel to go to at bag claim.
This new addition builds on the RFID tracking feature Delta launched in October which allows fliers to map the location of their luggage in the app as it is transmitted in real time.
Tim Mapes, chief marketing officer at Delta, said: “In the same way that customers want information at their fingertips about flight changes, we know our customers want clear visibility to their checked bags. Delta’s industry-first baggage tracking app was a good first step. RFID will allow us to set a new standard for more transparent, interactive tracking on the Fly Delta mobile app.”
Delta launched RFID tags back in April, embedding a microchip and antenna in every luggage tag to emit radio waves identifying and tracking the bag and store the data within.
RFID has already been utilised by Delta to decrease the likelihood of mishandled bags, as each tag is scanned with RFID technology as it enters and exits each aircraft, verifying that it is on the correct path.
Delta currently utilises RFID tags and scanners in 25 airports and plans to bring this number to 84 in coming months. This will equip over 85 per cent of bags flying Delta with RFID technology.
Though Delta is the only carrier using RFID on a global scale, the International Air Transportation (IATA) has found that employing RFID technology worldwide could decrease the number of mishandled bags by 25 per cent and save the airline industry US$3 billion by 2022.
The new tracking method complies with IATA Resolution 753, which requires airlines to track all baggage from start to finish beginning in June 2018.