Luggage Tracking Technology
 

So yesterday I was standing at the baggage reclaim conveyor in LHR after very delayed 14 hour flight from SIN waiting and waiting for my bag to turn up. To me, this is the worse part of the journey because you are so close to home yet so far.

An hour later, bags were still coming out one by one and I got wondering what (if any technology exists) that could have told me that yes my bag was nearby (in the airport) even if it wasn't up on the carousel yet (and yes my bag eventually appeared 70 minutes after landing)

I have seen the TrackDot things that suggest they would tell me that "hey I'm in London" which would be great as I would have known the bag would arrive sooner or later.

I have also seen the bluetooth "tags" that you use for lost keys that suggest a range of 100m. I wonder if one of these would let me know again that my bag was perhaps not too far away or would the range be so bad as to only tell me my bad was close when I was actually up on the carousel?

The TrackDot looks like it might work but the reviews on here don't seem to rate it (although they are several months old now).

Ultimately I don't want to be stood waiting for an hour plus when my bag is never going to turn up.

Any suggestions?

Trackdot is actually pretty mature now. I've had mine since it came out, and even though it SUCKED at launch, on my recent trip, it was 100% spot on with each airport. The mobile app is still a little shaky, and their site needs some work, but I could definitely recommend it. I was even offered a lifetime subscription when I recently renewed, so I'm extra happy with them.

GPS technology would likely be imbedded into luggages over the next three to five years.
http://mashable.com/2013/08/08/tech-luggage/
http://www.experiencetheskies.com/lu...-go-high-tech/

Fly an airline that scans its bags at the carousel. I know Delta does (and you can see it in their app). You can also see if it was scanned on the same flight you were on, if it wasn't then you should file a claim and go home. I assume some other airlines probably do this by now as well, I just don't know which ones.

Would these devices not technically be against FAA etc regulations?
They all must contain a transmitter of some sort to be useful, which is supposed to be turned off for take-off and landing on most aircraft, and for the entire flight for many others...

They thought of that :) My understanding is that both for FAA regulations and the sake of battery life, the Trakdot turns off when it senses a certain speed (in flight) and turns back on once you land and are no longer at speed.

My Trakdot works well and I'm fairly pleased with it. Here's a screenshot of Trakdot doing it's thing en route to AMM:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7603/...89d74202_c.jpgtrakdot by immaculate aaron, on Flickr

I see some mention on the web of a lifetime service plan for these but their website is completely uninformative about this--you can't even see what the options are without first entering a device ID.

Does anyone know what the truth is?

Until about a year ago, on United you could simply check the status of your bags at one of the United baggage claim kiosks, which were very accurate and reliable. For some reason, those were disconnected and not replaced with anything. I keep asking (to no avail) that the baggage tracking info be added to the United app. I understand the Delta app allows this.

Until United provides some way for me to avoid the problem described by OP, I will keep looking for a solution. Trakdot seems promising, as long as the later reviews are a more accurate indication of its performance than the earlier reviews.

Has anyone come up with a better solution?

Guys, i'm interested in this technology

What is the battery range of the Trackdot ?

Can it handle 16 to 20 hour flights ?

How does trakdot work? Does it need a simcard?

I read the FAQs in its website and it said there's no other cost in using trakdot aside from the annual fee, so how does it transmit its location to the mobile device?

My guess is that it sends location information via SMS. Location seems to be obtained via triangulation from cell towers.

I got offered the lifetime when I renewed my first year.

I never knew this. Do you mean the self check-in/baggage drop kiosks?

They were very similar. They were not in all airports, but most of my travel is IAD-SFO, both of which had them near the United baggage claim carousels. You could check the status of your bags either by entering the baggage claim number or by entering your Mileage Plus number. If your bag did not arrive when you did, you could take care of the claim by using the kiosk and did not have to stand in line at the counter. I got in the habit of doing that as soon as I arrived so that I would not have to wait for a bag that wasn't there. And then about a year ago, United disabled them and has not replaced them with anything else, such as a baggage feature on the app.

Well, you learn something new every day ;) thanks. I have been to SFO a number of times but never noticed these kiosks. Here's hoping the functionality will be added to their app someday (yeah right).

No issues with 24+ hour flights for me (not nonstop, obviously - with multiple connections along the way)

So instead of waiting for UA to add luggage tracking to their app, I broke down and ordered the Trakdot. So far (only 2 flights) it is has been perfect, and I have always received notifications before I even arrived in the baggage claim area.

Worth its purchase price, in your opinion?

Probably too soon for me to say; I will post more after a few more flights.

Total cost to me + lifetime service was ~$100 or so. I'm happy with my purchase ^

That's not an option as your bag will have to clear Customs. To do that, you need to speak to the airline's baggage counter (who will be able to confirm whether it was on the plane) and, assuming it missed the plane, they will get you to fill out a form which you then take to Customs so as to make a formal declaration of contents. Otherwise the airline won't be able to deliver it to you.

Super Smart Luggage Tags
 

Anyone have any experience with them ?

http://www.supersmarttag.com/index.cfm

or

https://www.reboundtag.com/

I forgot to turn off the trackdot and it worked a few days later for the return flights (total time of some 24hrs+ of flying).
Overall, I'm pleased with it. It does what it is supposed to do.

So it needs a sim card? And this sim card will need to have its international roaming activated. Correct?

Then what is the annual fee for? Is that for the payment for the telecom charges?

I'm curious in that the website says metal luggage won't work very well, but your screenshot shows it's tracking your Rimowa luggage. Do you have an aluminum case or the polycarbonate one, and if the former do you ever have reception issues like the website says?

Great question - I covered this in my review on Flickr. I was concerned that it wouldn't work with metal luggage. My Rimowa is a 29" Topas. No reception issues whatsoever ^

Does anyone have any experience using a Trakdot on international travel? It would be much less useful for me if it does not work in Europe.

did you see my screenshot?

no, it doesn't have a user-replaceable SIM card and you don't need to purchase an international roaming SIM for the device.

The annual fee is for telecom service.

Beeing one who's luggage has been displaced twice in 6 weeks, 8½ and 4 days respectively, I'll look more into this device. Seems to be worth the cost for knowing where your luggage actually IS

I see it now. Thanks.

I'm in Finland this week - Trakdot did a great job of pinging me every step of the way (SFO - FRA - HEL - OUL - HEL)

I have now used mine from IAD-SFO, SFO-IAD and IAD back to SFO. Still perfect; still on original batteries and still happy finding out where my luggage is even before I get to baggage claim. So far I am very pleased.

I'm putting it up on my shopping list

TrakDot
 

I used my TrakDot late last year on my IAD-SFO-SEA-LAX-IAH-MUC-HAJ outbound. Luggage got stuck in MUC (Munich), filed a claim right away at HAJ (Hannover) and went to the hotel. Got alerted when it landed at HAJ, and went downstairs to the lobby about an hour after it showed up in the vicinity of the hotel. It had been delivered, but they didn't even have a chance to call me yet. :) Forgot to turn it off, went with me down on the ICC train to Munich, which was cool to see on the map. Batteries died after 6+ days.

This year it went with me DCA-JFK-SFO-HKG-NRT-HNL-EWR-IAD. No service in Japan (as explained on their site), but otherwise performed perfectly. No problems on my other short trips thru CLE/DEN/DFW/LAS/IAH/MCO/ORD/YYZ.

For added protection of the unit, I keep mine in a bubble-wrap mailer. Also good to keep spare batteries in there.

Location isn't as accurate as GPS (up to 1/2 mi off), but easily enough for what it's made for. I bought mine with a year of service, upgraded to Lifetime when it was offered. I am very pleased with my purchase.

Trakdot with free Lifetime Subscription
 

In case anyone is interested, I got an email for:

GET FREE LIFETIME ANNUAL SERVICE
When you purchase a new Trakdot Luggage Tracker at $49.99

http://Trakdot.com/en/trakdot-luggage

Add to cart, and you will see Lifetime Plan included free. Good thru June 30 2015.

Enjoy!

Pricing shown from the UK on that link is £79.99 ($125!!!) + $19 annual service charge.

I won't be biting unless I get a trip to the US soon.

Tried it in the US--there's absolutely no mention on the page you land on but it shows up in the cart. I've held off due to the annual costs, they just got a sale with this offer.

I have had my trackdot for several years now. I have had excellent results on domestic travel. I have had mixed results in Thailand and one kind of funny thing happen in Costa Rica.

In Thailand I have usually not gotten my notification that my bag has reached Thailand until after I am in a car and out of the airport. In May and June of 2015 I had absolutely no results inside of Thailand. I have always a had very quick notification that my bag has reached TPE where I change planes.

In December when I went to Costa Rica I had a second notification that my bag had reached an airport when I was in a car service heading into town. My driver said that there was no airport with that name or letters. I found out later that there had been an airport there but that it had been closed a long time ago.

Since I have only ever had baggage problems with USA domestic airlines (never with EVA, Thai or Cathay) I really rely on my Trackdot to confirm that my bag has made it to each stop and that the information it would provide me would help locate my bag if it does not make it to my final destination.

I have never been able to get the Bluetooth portion of the app to work. That is the feature that is supposed to tell you how far away your bag is from you.