Products like globalbagtags remind me that there's still room in this world for innovation through simply recognizing an obvious need. What frequent traveler hasn't experienced losing a bag and having to track it down through primitive means (starting with filling out reports inexactly describing the bag and its contents)? Chris Truelove, founder of globalbagtags.com, Ltd (based in the UK), set out to find a better system after a nightmarish travel experience in Australia. His lost bag likely ended up in one of many lost luggage warehouses where bags with untraceable ownership end up. Apparently, when those flimsy paper airline tags fall off and your bag ends up in the bag orphanage, bag and contents are sold to places like the Unclaimed Baggage Center, which then resells your stuff on the open market.
Each globalbagtag has a serial number which is entered into an online database and is registered to the owner. Your personal and travel information is stored on the database and is accessible only by you and authorized airline personnel, but the tags themselves give away no identifying information. If your bag goes missing, you can go online 24 hours a day and begin the tracing process.
The tags come in two varieties: universal tags which fasten onto handles with a metal security fastener, and standard tags with adhesive for hard surface bags. Approximately $16.95 per tag (including two years' registration).