A non-battery electronic luggage tag was issued on Shanghai-Beijing scheduled flights by China Eastern Airlines on July 29, marking the first of its kind in the world.

Compared with the current common electronic luggage tags, the newly-released one is not charged with a built-in battery and therefore is much safer and more convenient. Moreover, being shock-resistant and anti-seismic, the tag can protect the data exchanged from external damage including weather changes.

The electronic luggage tag on a trunk. [Photo/ newsxmwb.xinmin.cn]

The new technology symbolizes not only a world-first for the airline company’s luggage tracking system, but also a new chapter in China’s intelligent civil aviation development.

Data can be transformed to the electronic tag within seconds after luggage check-in on a mobile app. [Photo/ newsxmwb.xinmin.cn]

The first batch of passengers experienced the convenience first-hand. After self-service checking in the luggage with the airline company’s app on a cellphone and placing the tag near the NFC (Near Field Communication) sensing area on their cellphone, the information of flight number and luggage destination is transformed onto the tag within seconds. After finishing the activation process on a designated counter, the whole luggage check-in is completed.

The electronic tag simplifies the previous luggage check-in process since users can now even begin the process when they are still at home or on their way to the airport. Besides, via the accurate tracking function of the built-in RFID identification chip of the electronic tag, passengers can check the status of their suitcases at any time.

It is expected that in the future, the new mode will be applied to more hub airports and key flights and personalized tags may even be produced.