OREANDA-NEWS. Next month British Airways is to trial a new electronic bag tag that could do away with the need to have a new paper tag every time you fly.

Once checked in, customers just need to hold their smartphone over the electronic tag, which automatically updates with a unique barcode containing their flight details and an easy-to-see view of their bag's destination.

Not requiring a traditional paper tag to be printed and attached, customers can then save precious time by having their electronic tag quickly scanned at the bag drop, going straight through security to relax before catching their flight.

It is intended that the patent-pending hi-tech tag can be used time and time again.

Frank van der Post, British Airways'managing director, brands and customer experience, said: “This is a fantastically simple, yet smart device that gives each customer the choice to have their own personalised electronic baggage tag that changes with the swipe of a smartphone - every time they fly.

“As the saying goes, 'good things come in small packages', and this innovative device is no exception. Along with other initiatives we are investing in, we believe it has the potential to revolutionise the way our customers check in and pass through every airport around the world in the future.”

Glenn Morgan, British Airways' head of service transformation, said: “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do and our drive to innovate with this new electronic bag tag is a brilliant example of how we can help transform their travelling experience.

“We've harnessed expertise from across the airline to produce a solution for speedier checking-in, which at one swipe shows British Airways can be a game changer when it comes to customer service.”

Development of the personalised electronic bag tag is part of a wider strategy by British Airways to improve dramatically the customer experience through the airport, making it quicker, smoother and easier.

Major trials have also taken place on self-service bag drops, automated boarding gates, porter services, auto check-in, and meet and greet hosts.

The electronic tags have been specially developed by British Airways in partnership Densitron Displays, and Designworks Windsor, while Heathrow Airport is providing help with the trials.

Over the next five years British Airways is investing more than ?5bn in new aircraft, smarter cabins, elegant lounges, and new technologies to make life more comfortable in the air and on the ground.