$8.27 trillion dollars—that’s how big the travel industry’s impact was to the economy of the world in 2017 according to a study published by Statista. Whether for business or pleasure, there are simply more people travelling these days, and the trend is expected to continue in the years to come. Does this mean that aside from investing in the smartest phones in the market today, we should also put our money in smart luggage? Well, to answer this, we must first go over some of the handiest features today’s tech-powered pieces of luggage have to offer.
Improved tracking and security
While most airlines offer compensation for lost luggage, getting all your things back—or not losing them in the first place—is still way better. The good news is that smart luggage like the Bluesmart Cabin 22” and Check 29” come with built-in GPS trackers, so in the event that you lose them, you can easily track their location using your smartphone. And, thanks to their digital lock that automatically engages once you move a certain amount of distance away, you also won’t have to worry about your things getting stolen while waiting for your luggage to be returned. The only downside is that this technology comes with a considerable price tag. But given the benefits you’re getting, it still is a great investment. Besides, you could just take out a small personal loan to easily finance one-off purchases like this.
Useful add-ons
But better tracking and security are not the only things you can get from your smart luggage. Some models, such as the Raden A22 Carry, also come with built-in power banks so you can keep your smart devices juiced up while waiting at the airport. Keep in mind that while there are a lot of fun things to do during a long layover, using your smartphone to take photos, play games, watch movies or listen to music is still one of the most convenient options—and you can only do this if you have a lot of backup power on hand.
In addition to power banks, however, some smart luggage brands also come equipped with an integrated weighing scale. Needless to say, a feature like this allows you to easily keep track of how much weight you are carrying at any given time and ultimately avoid surprise excess weight charges at the airport. This is especially useful when you are coming home from a trip that involved a whole lot of shopping.
So, is this new tech for you?
Well, if you travel a lot and typically hop from one plane to the next during your trips, then it will definitely help you a lot. This, however, doesn’t mean that more casual flyers should just pass on the whole thing. At the end of the day, anyone who’s looking for a more worry-free travel experience should definitely check these smart luggage technologies out.