Bagpassport hopes product will end misery of lost luggage for travellers

by Jimmy Woulfe

Thursday, March 12, 2009

THE misery of losing baggage while travelling could soon be at an end thanks to a product from a Co Clare firm.

The founders of Bagpassport.com plan to create up to 15 jobs at its headquarters in Ennis, Co Clare, over the coming months as they roll out the product to all major airports and rail stations throughout the world.

Designed, produced and packaged in Ireland, the Bag Passport is a tag possessing a unique 12-digit code that the owner can register online or by text message at the point of sale.

Anyone who finds a missing bag enters the code with the location and relevant contact details on the firm’s website. This immediately activates a text message and email to the registered owner, telling them the bag’s location and who to contact.

An estimated 42 million bags are mislaid, misdirected or lost worldwide every year, costing the global airline industry e3 billion. In the US alone, 7000 bags enter a warehousing facility for auction every day.

John McCarthy of Bagpassport.com said: "We believe that this product has great potential and our plans are to make it available in 15 languages, in most major airports and rail stations throughout the world within the next 12 months.

"During this period of expansion we plan to create an additional 15 sales, marketing and R&D jobs." Mr McCarthy said it could be attached to almost any item of luggage, from snowboards and golf bags to laptop cases. "In the current economic environment, it is better to protect what you have rather than having to replace it at a much greater cost. There is no need to rely on lightweight plastic or paper tags that can be easily be torn. Furthermore, this product caters for the majority of people that do not like having their personal information on display or having baggage handlers going through their personal belongings in an attempt to identify the owner.

"With our tag all personal details are stored behind the 12-digit code. This product offers travellers complete peace of mind and allows them to simply sit back and enjoy their journey, safe in the knowledge that their bags are protected by our system," he concluded.

Bag Passports cost e9.99 and are available from selected retail outlets and online.

* bagpassport.com

This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Thursday, March 12, 2009