Originally Posted by
expert7700
I'm resurrecting this old thread because when I read the 2009 Southwest Airlines annual report, it says the following on page 4:
During 2009... Improved Baggage Tracking. The Company also introduced on-hand baggage scanners, which provide Customer Service agents (i) visbility to bags in the Company's possession across the system, (ii) increased efficiency and organization with the automation provided by the scanning equipment, and (iii) the ability to recover misplaced bags more quickly for Customers and provide information as to the timing of bag returns.
Reread the quoted part carefully. The baggage scanners are at the Baggage Service Office to record unclaimed (we call them "on-hand") luggage. The Op is referring to a system that scans the tags at checkin, T-point, aircraft door, and offload. That technology may be coming, but it's not here yet. From what I understand finding a system portable and rugged enough to withstand the weather and the physical activities of Ramp Agents (needing to hold/move bags with both hands, jumping into bins, etc) is hard to find for a reasonable cost. So that Ramp Agents canuse both hands handling bags, it would have to be a hands-free system.