Alaska Air Group Inc. said Wednesday it has launched program that allows travelers to tag their luggage using the air carrier’s mobile app before they get to the airport. The company said its 2,500 Alaska Mileage Plus members will start receiving this week their electronic bag tags, a three-inch by five-inch device that’s updated with the traveler’s flight information during check-in. That will allow the traveler to leave their luggage at the bad-drop area without standing in line. The company estimates that the electronic bag tag will reduce time travelers spend in airport lobbies by about 40%. “The last thing our guests want to do is stand in line,” said Charu Jain, senior vice-president of merchandising and innovation for Alaska. “With the addition of the Alaska Airlines electronic bag tag, our guests can complete almost all of their check-in tasks – from the comfort of their home, at work or on the way to catching their flight.” Alaska Air’s stock, which was still inactive in premarket trading, has gained 3.9% over the past three months, while the U.S. Global Jets ETF has advanced 5.4% and the S&P 500 has slipped 0.7%.
Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.