Adding to its growing collection of smart travel technologies, Tumi has announced a real-time wireless luggage tracker called the Global Locator. Weighing just 150 grams — that’s half an ounce — the unobtrusively small device employs wi-fi, GPS, GSM and Bluetooth technologies (accessed through a pre-loaded, year-long AT&T data plan) to keep tabs on the bag in which it is placed and relay that info to users via an accompanying mobile app.
The Global Locator operates in three modes: Travel, which logs data every 20–30 minutes to establish a history feed; Hotel, which alerts a user if their bag strays from a designated home base; and Proximity, which uses a close-range Bluetooth connection to send a notification if luggage strays too far from the connected phone. Through the accompanying app, customers can contact airline customer support if baggage seems to have been misplaced.
While select airlines have introduced measures like RFID tags to combat misplaced luggage, the fact remains that 21.6 million bags were mishandled in 2016. With the Global Locator, Tumi provides customers with peace of mind and power over their belongings. It’s worth noting, however, that the device may not work as intended if placed in an aluminum-sided bag, like any of Tumi’s stunningly durable 19 Degrees series.
