UPDATE - DECEMBER 2018: Trakdot relies on 2G telecommunication services, which is now disappearing from the airwaves. Trakdot has been largely silent as to what specific, if any, steps are being taken to address this issue. Unless Trakdot is able to update its services to 3G or 4G, my recommendation is not to purchase this device and/or renew subscription services.
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On our return flight from Antarctica earlier this year, one duffel bag containing winter expedition clothes never made it out of Chile. Despite several attempts to locate the missing baggage, LAN Airlines and American Airlines provided little real tracking assistance. Upon return to the US, I started looking at ways to better monitor the movement of our luggage as our checked baggage moved across the United States and through international destinations.
Luggage monitoring via GPS doesn't really work as a GPS receiver needs clear satellite access for positioning. Bluetooth is limited by the 33 feet maximum range for most mobile phones. Thus, a stronger signal and more reliable monitoring method is required if you wish to use your mobile phone to determine whether your luggage moved from your point of origin, was redirected somewhere else or has arrived at the destination airport.
For our next long distance trips we are trying the Trakdot.Trakdot uses a combination of GSM cellular technology and acceleration monitoring to identify and report luggage movement and ground location.The Trakdot is slipped into your checked baggage. An SMS message and/or email message is sent to the Trakdot registered owner as the baggage moves - or doesn't move - from your point of flight origin towards the destination airport. The device is powered by two AA alkaline batteries. The batteries last about three days. The only locations for which the Trakdot doesn't work are those that do not have GSM cellular services, such as Japan and South Korea. I noticed that turning the tracker on and off can be confusing as the in-service light is not especially intuitive.
One year of monitoring service is included with a Trakdot purchase. Shortly after purchase, I was offered - and I accepted - a a lifetime subscription at $70 per year for each tracker. At $20 per annual subscription renewal, it will take four years for this lifetime subscription to pay off. Note that in 2016, the one-year subscription rate will increase to $25 and the lifetime subscription will increase to $90.
Even with this technology assist, there are limitations. While the Trakdot will help us monitor movement of our baggage and identify ground location of a checked-in bag, we continue to be at the mercy of airline customer service staff to search for baggage that doesn't make the claim carousel. The Trakdot could help baggage staff focus their search - but only if they have the interest to do so. I recall several times American Airlines baggage staff reportedly called LAN Airlines for baggage search assistance only to be met with disinterest on the part of LAN Airlines. I suppose, the worst case could be a bit more extreme - particularly if the Trakdot became part of a lost luggage claim.
Check back for an update as to how Trakdot performed on our trip to Southeast Asia.
UPDATE: The Trakdot performed well on our recent trip that included seven flights between the US, Myanmar and Viet Nam. Email and text messages alerted us to movement and general location of our two duffel bags. There was one flight connection where one Trakdot reported its location at the origin airport but the alert for destination airport was delayed. I'm not sure what why the delay, but I will admit being worried as I waited at the luggage carousel.
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On our return flight from Antarctica earlier this year, one duffel bag containing winter expedition clothes never made it out of Chile. Despite several attempts to locate the missing baggage, LAN Airlines and American Airlines provided little real tracking assistance. Upon return to the US, I started looking at ways to better monitor the movement of our luggage as our checked baggage moved across the United States and through international destinations.
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| Source: trakdot.com |
For our next long distance trips we are trying the Trakdot.Trakdot uses a combination of GSM cellular technology and acceleration monitoring to identify and report luggage movement and ground location.The Trakdot is slipped into your checked baggage. An SMS message and/or email message is sent to the Trakdot registered owner as the baggage moves - or doesn't move - from your point of flight origin towards the destination airport. The device is powered by two AA alkaline batteries. The batteries last about three days. The only locations for which the Trakdot doesn't work are those that do not have GSM cellular services, such as Japan and South Korea. I noticed that turning the tracker on and off can be confusing as the in-service light is not especially intuitive.
One year of monitoring service is included with a Trakdot purchase. Shortly after purchase, I was offered - and I accepted - a a lifetime subscription at $70 per year for each tracker. At $20 per annual subscription renewal, it will take four years for this lifetime subscription to pay off. Note that in 2016, the one-year subscription rate will increase to $25 and the lifetime subscription will increase to $90.
Even with this technology assist, there are limitations. While the Trakdot will help us monitor movement of our baggage and identify ground location of a checked-in bag, we continue to be at the mercy of airline customer service staff to search for baggage that doesn't make the claim carousel. The Trakdot could help baggage staff focus their search - but only if they have the interest to do so. I recall several times American Airlines baggage staff reportedly called LAN Airlines for baggage search assistance only to be met with disinterest on the part of LAN Airlines. I suppose, the worst case could be a bit more extreme - particularly if the Trakdot became part of a lost luggage claim.
Check back for an update as to how Trakdot performed on our trip to Southeast Asia.
UPDATE: The Trakdot performed well on our recent trip that included seven flights between the US, Myanmar and Viet Nam. Email and text messages alerted us to movement and general location of our two duffel bags. There was one flight connection where one Trakdot reported its location at the origin airport but the alert for destination airport was delayed. I'm not sure what why the delay, but I will admit being worried as I waited at the luggage carousel.
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