Speaking of luggage, for those of who have Smart Luggage (i.e. luggage which uses electricity to give you value added features such as self weighing, GPS tracking, the ability to charge a mobile phone), today may be a day to leave your Smart Luggage at home for a while.
Why?
The IATA guidance on Smart Luggage goes into effect as of today. This means smart luggage that doesn’t have the ability to remove a Li-ion battery in it cannot be accepted for travel – be it hold luggage or hand luggage.
Nope. This is a dumb suitcase – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
If you can remove the battery from your smart bag in a safe way (and replace it each time), the bag can fly. Otherwise – it remains grounded, and will not be accepted for travel.
Implementation of the ban kicked in late last year with American and Delta banning these style of bags. Cathay Pacific also banned them in the New Year, and everyone else who is an IATA member (covering the majority of airlines out there) will be banning them today.
Steps to take:
- Got a normal dumb suitcase? You’re good to go
- Got a smart suitcase that is carry on? – Check if you can remove the battery safely from it. If yes – it can travel. If no, it’s staying on the ground.
- Got a smart suitcase that is a checked item? – Same as above. If you can’t remove the battery safely, it won’t fly.
Whilst companies like BlueSmart are trying negotiation (and thus, their bags won’t fly), Raden and ArloSkype have deployed a removable battery component (which will allow these bags to fly).
Should you get any Smart Luggage for now?
My verdict is unfortunately a simple one – NO.
Until such time regulations have settled down and manufacturers have a better grip on the changes being laid down at IATA level and downwards – you would be wise to hold off purchasing any smart luggage.
If you do have a smart bag, smart luggage or otherwise – it might be time to dig out the old dumb one for a while.
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