Do the gate checked bags get barcode scanned before being stowed in the a/c?
The only reason to issue a new liuggage tag is to have a unique identifier for the luggage and to be able to trace it. I know NW's luggage system tracks where the luggage is, updates when the luggage has been rescanned enroute during a truip. etc.
Have the airlink flights started scanning all luggage being loaded and unloaded?
RC