Track Checked Luggage At Airport With New Gadget & App
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PHILADELPHIA -
Harry Steck's goal was to create a product to make traveling more convenient.
The result was Trakdot, a gadget plus an app set to hit the market this year that aims to give frequent flyers more of a sense of security.
Steck's new product debuted this week at CES.
"The luggage locator device delivers city specific information on the whereabouts of checked baggage in real time," Steck told FOX 29's Meg Baker.
After all, nearly 26 million bags go missing from airports each year, either getting left behind or sent to the wrong city, according to SITA, a group that specializes in transport communications and information technology.
So, how does it work?
First register your device online at Trakdot.com, then stick the Trakdot device in your luggage to view your bag's location via the virtually connected mobile app downloaded onto your smartphone.
"The palm size tracker is ultra-light. It fits easily into any size bag," Steck says.
"Even if the Trakdot protected bag does not reach the desired destination, passengers will still have the reassurance of knowing which city their luggage is in," Steck told FOX 29.
The app can also alert passengers to when their luggage has arrived on the carousel for pick up, saving time and peace of mind. This could have saved one passenger we spoke to at Philadelphia International Airport.
"Today, I was so nervous, because we were way upstairs and this is the first time I have been in the Philadelphia airport so we didn't know what to expect. I was freaking out that I would have to go shop for a new wardrobe and suitcase to get back to Kentucky," the passenger said.
If you do not have a smartphone, or service on your phone, you can also track your luggage online.
"For added convenience, Trakdot luggage carriers can track or locate bags on the web at www.trackdot.com using a secure log in," Steck told FOX 29.
The device will be available in April for about $50. There is an activation fee of $8.99 and an annual service fee of $12.99. But this expense could be worth it if you are a frequent flyer.
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