‘Find my suitcase’: US Airways offers live baggage tracking
US Airways is the latest airline to let you track your checked bag – like you would track a parcel.
Just as the “Find my iPhone” app helps track your lost smartphone, some airlines are offering live tracking tools that help you keep tabs on your checked bags.
If an airline has ever lost your bags, there is some comforting news: some airlines offer bag tracking apps that allow you to keep an eye on your checked luggage, even while you’re in the air.
US Airways is the second major US carrier (after Delta) to jump on board with a live bag tracking tool.
When you check in a bag, US Airways scans it and provides a bag tag receipt which you can use to track your bag by logging onto the airline’s dedicated site: baggagetracker.usairways.com
The system updates every time the bag is re-scanned, for example, when it comes on and off an aircraft.
If you’re using the airline’s WiFi, you can also log in for free and check that your bag hasn’t been left behind at any time, such as when you’ve just made a quick connection.
Delta allows passengers to track their bags using its free mobile app.
While tracking systems won’t stop your bag from going missing, it shows a willingness from airlines to be more transparent with the way they handle our bags, and speed up claims. For airlines, that means a time and cost saving.
Could it be a deal breaker for travellers shopping for flights, especially those that involve multiple connections? Post your comments below.
