Alaska Airlines launches $89 electronic bag tag option

Close to 20 international airlines have already adopted similar technologies. Alaska Airlines is now leading this effort in the United States after testing it over several years. The airline spokesperson stated that this move aligns with their goal "to help travelers get to security in five minutes or less."

While Hawaiian Airlines plans to integrate this system soon, Alaska's electronic tags can currently be used on flights within North America and with partners like Icelandair and Qatar Airways. Additionally, there are ongoing efforts to apply these tags for checking in wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

The cost of $89 may seem significant initially; however, an Alaska Airlines representative described it as "a small investment for the time it saves and the peace of mind it provides." Jasper Quak from Bagtag noted that using these tags saves approximately 13 feet of non-recyclable paper per traveler annually.

Viktoria Rudo from Lufthansa Group highlighted that electronic bag tags have been successful for over a decade, helping reduce reliance on paper alternatives. Timos Korosis from Aegean Airlines emphasized learning from EBTs (Electronic Bag Tags) as essential for future advancements.

Efforts by Baggage Working Groups at IATA aim to standardize processes across airlines using EBTs but acknowledge that comprehensive implementation remains ongoing.