Could the age of standing in long baggage-drop and baggage-claim lines be over? New "smart luggage" may make it possible. While there are already a few self-tracking suitcases out there from small companies, now it's time for the 800-pound canaries to get into the game.
Samsonite and Samsung are collaborating on development of suitcases that can check themselves in at the airport, let you know when Customs (or anyone else) opens them, and alert you when they arrive at the baggage carousel at your destination. The info would go to your smartphone, which could also open or lock the suitcase.
Down the road, when smaller, lighter motor gear is developed, they may even faithfully follow you around the airport, hands-free. That part's seems a bit blue-sky to me, and might make luggage easier to steal (although once a thief grabs it, it might be able to call police or yell for help?!?).
The big plus is the idea of having the luggage self-identifying and talking directly to your airline. The chip would carry the airline information, ticket information and even the weight (built-in scale). That could eliminate the baggage-drop lines at the counter; you could just drop the bag on a carousel, and it would handle its own details. Emirates and Lufthansa are working with them on that one.
One thing to watch for: this early version from Bluesmart has colorful lights that might lead to mistaken calls to security! Here's MORE on the Samsonite plans from TheVerge.
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