Technology has been changing everything around us for the past two decades. We now have things that we couldn’t even dream about; phones and laptops are getting extremely powerful and small in size. A phone is a complete computer nowadays, you can do anything you want on it. Like everything else, bags are also being upgraded with the help of technology and that’s how smart bag was created.
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What is a Smart Bag?
You must be asking yourself, what is a smart bag? A smart bag is luggage that has a battery pack included in it and many other features to help you with your journey and make it more convenient. The luggage industry has been stagnant for the longest time, and these Smart bags are creating big waves among consumers. They are not just a bag anymore; these smart bags are equipped with state of the art features to make your travel as smooth as possible. They have tons of features, and some of these features are as follows:
- Built-in electronic scales
- Electronic locks controlled by your smartphone
- External USB port of USB-c port for charging any device you might be carrying
- GPS Tracking
- Solar panels for charging the bag
- RFID blocking liners for security
- Portable WiFi hotspots
These are just some of the features you can find on a smart bag, but there are many more, and as time passes, more and more features are being added to these bags.
History of Smart Bag policies:
When smart bags first came out, people were excited and delighted that the luggage industry had evolved, and finally, they could travel with peace of mind, and their journey would be more facilitated. A lot of people bought these bags and started travelling with them, but as we know lithium-ion batteries are a fire hazard, so due to safety concerns in 2018, the UN International Civil Aeronautics Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) recommended airlines to now allow these bags in the checked bags cargo. So at the end, TSA ended up banning bags containing non-removable lithium-ion batteries by the end of 2018.
Always check with your airline before you travel with your new smart bag, you can also tell them what model you have, and they will tell you if it is allowed or not. Some US airlines like American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines have new rules regarding these smart bags. Smart bag will make your journey more convenient there is no doubt about that, but you need to make sure if it adheres to the TSA’s removable battery regulation and also complies with their other baggage policies.
Travelling with a Smart bag:
You can certainly travel with a smart bag containing a lithium-ion battery as long as it is removable. If you are checking in your smart bag, you will have to remove the battery and carry it with you in your luggage which can be a hassle, but you will have no other choice. The airline staff will ask you to store your battery in the overhead cabin, and if the space is
scaring, which it mostly is, you will face problems.
If the battery is non-removable, they can refuse to take the bag, and you will have to lose items in that bag or transfer everything last minute to another bag which will defeat the purpose of getting that bag in the first place. Overall, smart bag is a great idea, and I would love to see more improvements in it for future travels. If we move to another type of battery, that will make them even more secure for trips.
