Many of the budget airlines are now encouraging travellers to pack light by charging for checked hold luggage. However, not all travellers are able to apply this minimalist approach to their baggage needs.
There are many situations in which passengers will need to fly with larger items accompanying them on their travels. Sports professionals may need to take equipment such as golf clubs, skis or surf boards on their flight, whilst musicians might require to check-in a large instrument such as a cello or a tuba – airlines such as British Airways give good guidance on how to travel safely, but not all do.
Professional photographers will commonly need to take a range of bulky digital equipment including tripods with them in order to capture footage on a nature holiday for instance.
Not only are these items large, but they are also extremely valuable – in many cases these pieces represent someone’s livelihood. Therefore it is imperative that passengers do not lose their precious cargo and have a means of tracking their belongings when they are not in their immediate possession.
Introducing Protagz
Luckily, help is at hand for those who travel with such items. Smart tag provider, Dynotagz has recently launched a new line of Mega Tags called Protagz, which is specifically aimed at those who travel with large items.
Protagz are about the size of a postcard and fit to all manner of bulky belongings that you might take on your travels, whether it’s for business or leisure purposes. The idea of the tag is that whoever finds your item will be able to scan it and receive detailed information about the owner in order to make contact with them and have the property returned.
Cloud-Based Protagz Site
After activating the tag to make it your own, you can then use Dynotagz’s cloud-based services to set up a personal website for your item. Travellers are able to upload important documents that are linked to the item, which might include records or receipt of purchase.
Anyone who comes across your missing belongings can scan the tag with a device such as a smartphone. This will trigger a clickable link to be added to Google Maps on your personal site if the user allows their location to be known. If the user denies knowledge of their precise location to be uploaded, then a rough estimate based on IP address will be given instead.
There is no monthly fee or subscription to pay in order to use the cloud-based personal site for Protagz. The cost of the smart luggage tag is under $20 and includes lifetime membership and plenty of storage for your associated documents. You can even lock down the site to a password-restricted level if you wish, or alternatively share it on social platforms such as Facebook.
The tag itself is robust and is made from a scratchproof triple layer synthetic laminate material with a reinforced brass grommet. It is possible to customise your tag with marker pen as there is a large blank area designed for this purpose.
Of course even modern technology can fail sometimes. The rough handling of baggage could leave items being damaged even though they are not actually lost. Therefore it is important to take out worldwide travel insurance to safeguard your possessions and insure them for the cost of replacement in the unfortunate case of loss or damage.
Photo: Mr. Hayata
