Permanent RFID Baggage Tags (aka Q Bag Tag) with other airlines

[here2go]

Mrs Here2go asked me a very valid question re the Q Bag Tags. Do they work on any other airline? Theoretically they could save the industry a fortune in lost luggage through better quality tracking (even if the bag misses the connection, from experience a bag with a Q Bag Tag is much easier to find)

I've looked around, and the standard used to build the tags is generic, but it would appear that no other airline has adopted it. There are some airports that use disposable RFID tags to manage bags in the airport due to their reliability, however, their adoption beyond singular airports, it would appear only Qantas has rolled out the technology.

Does anybody know of any plans by airlines to adopt them, in particular by MI/SQ, AY and SK? The Q Bag Tags should be able to be used by any airline that uses the technology.

Cheers!

 

[drewbles]

They do not work with any other airline (yet, or ever who know).

They would be based on a specific frequency, and it may not be compatible with anyone elses.

Whilst these are similar to a smart card for public transport, the QF Q-Tag's do not contain any identifying information. When you check-in, they simply associate the serial number of the tag with your PNR, and allow it to be routed (sometimes) correctly to your destination. This allows you to use the tags with any bag, and status is then linked to the booking, not the tag (the colours are for the DYKWIA factor).

In theory they could be used elsewhere, but I'm guessing it won't happen for quite some time.

 

[here2go]

They do not work with any other airline (yet, or ever who know)

They would be based on a specific frequency, and it may not be compatible with anyone elses.

In theory they could be used elsewhere, but I'm guessing it won't happen for quite some time.

From my understanding the Tags are IATA standard. This article suggests that things are happening, but is light on in detail. Tagsys, ICM Airport Technics Market RFID Bag Tag to Airlines - RFID Journal

 

[drewbles]

Well there you go i've been educated. I had no idea IATA had a ratified standard for this

Still, knowing how slowly airlines move, i'd say we're going to be a way off on this. I would imagine that OneWorld carriers would be jumping on first, and there may be something about serial numbers being loaded in the necessary systems.

Also quickly searching I found that LAS is also doing processing with RFID, so perhaps things are rolling out

 

[yohy?!]

im not holding my breath for rfid bag tags to become internationally and across carriers anytime soon - the global airline industry is fighting for survival and this type of capital investment is likely not a priority at present...

 

[drewbles]

im not holding my breath for rfid bag tags to become internationally and across carriers anytime soon - the global airline industry is fighting for survival and this type of capital investment is likely not a priority at present...

This is largely an airport infrastructure investment, not just an airline one.

For airlines that have their own facilities (like QF do in AU) where they lease/own the terminal and facilities, then yes it's an airport expense. But for most international terminals, they're all common user spaces where the owner would need to implement this. That would be a large part of the reason it's now only seen on the QF domestic run.

There's a lot more than whacking in a RFID reader at check-in, all the back-of-house baggage systems have to be able to cope too, which is the big cost.

 

[yohy?!]

This is largely an airport infrastructure investment, not just an airline one.

For airlines that have their own facilities (like QF do in AU) where they lease/own the terminal and facilities, then yes it's an airport expense. But for most international terminals, they're all common user spaces where the owner would need to implement this. That would be a large part of the reason it's now only seen on the QF domestic run.

There's a lot more than whacking in a RFID reader at check-in, all the back-of-house baggage systems have to be able to cope too, which is the big cost.

It's an interesting question as most airlines are also check-in and ground service providers so who picks up the cost of the investment, it probably varies everywhere - I can imagine Mac Bank would be overjoyed at the thought in SYD...

 

[drewbles]

It's an interesting question as most airlines are also check-in and ground service providers so who picks up the cost of the investment, it probably varies everywhere - I can imagine Mac Bank would be overjoyed at the thought in SYD...

Exactly. No one wants to wear the cost of infrastructure upgrades, and I would imagine that airports would just jack up the rent to the airlines, or make them pay for the technology I suppose. Not considered that.

Regardless, I do echo your sentiments of 'not anytime soon'. I'm not sure how much smoother RFID makes things over barcodes. I guess the current paper tags or stickers can be ripped off, but of course there have been reports of the QF ones being ripped off too. The cost of upgrading may not be of enough benefit yet.

 

[Berlin]

A nice lady at BA check in at LHR told me last month that BA will adopt the technology from QF in the next couple of months. No clue if the information was correct but she seemed very convinced about it, maybe some internal communication announcing it?