RIMOWA and Lufthansa unveil a world first in Las Vegas and are immediately awarded with the 'Best Baggage Initiative' prize.
COLOGNE, GERMANY – From 9 to 11 September, RIMOWA and its launch partner Lufthansa presented the RIMOWA Electronic Tag for the first time in Las Vegas at FTE Global (Future Travel Experience), the airline industry’s leading conference. The product was a result of the BAG2GO project, a cross-industry collaboration between T-Systems, Airbus and RIMOWA that has already attracted great interest worldwide, leading to the foundation of a wholly owned subsidiary of RIMOWA in 2014 under the name BAG2GO GmbH.
The first digital and fully integrated mobility solution for luggage makes flying with baggage more convenient, faster and more secure. It consists of a RIMOWA suitcase, an airline app and the RIMOWA Electronic Tag with an E Ink Mobius display, which is built into the luggage. A predicted 3.5 billion people will travel by plane this year, almost all of whom already carry a smartphone in their bag or pocket. It is therefore only logical to connect suitcases to the digital world.
Operation
These days, luggage is still checked in by hand before a paper label is attached. In contrast, air passengers with the RIMOWA Electronic Tag, built by Netronix, can simply check in from home or while on the road using the airline app – and check in their luggage, too. In addition to a digital boarding pass, passengers will receive digital luggage information from the airline for their booked flight. Lufthansa recently became the first company to integrate this feature in its app as part of an exclusive arrangement. Just by one click the luggage information is then sent via Bluetooth from the smartphone to the suitcase equipped with the RIMOWA Electronic Tag. The details are immediately displayed on the built-in data module powered by E Ink. The RIMOWA suitcase can be dropped off within seconds at the airport.
Advantages
In terms of size and appearance, the luggage information displayed on the electronic data module corresponds to today’s paper labels, including the green EU stripe required by customs (compulsory for all flights departing from European airports). This makes the transition from analogue to digital very simple. The important information is protected from moisture, heat, cold, shocks and vibration and cannot be accidentally torn off, unlike a paper label.
Launch
The product launch of the RIMOWA Electronic Tag is taking place exclusively with Lufthansa through RIMOWA stores. Sales start is planned for the beginning of 2016.
The first award
RIMOWA and Lufthansa have been presented with the ‘Best Baggage Initiative’ award. As part of a gala evening at the FTE Global show (Future Travel Experience) on 10 September 2015, RIMOWA and Lufthansa received the award for the RIMOWA Electronic Tag.
The annual prize ceremony recognises companies for modern ideas and services that make travelling even more enjoyable for passengers – both on the ground and in the air. An anonymous panel of industry experts awards the most innovative, demanding and successful initiatives and organisations.
Photo caption: RIMOWA Las Vegas GM Manuel Ortiz; RIMOWA Electronic Tag CEO Jan Reh; Lufthansa Director Product Management & Airport Passenger Services Dr. Bjoern Becker; RIMOWA North America Executive Vice President Tom Nelson and RIMOWA Project Coordinator and Pilot – Operations Sven Lepschy (from left to right) (PRNewsFoto/RIMOWA GmbH).
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
