Orlando International Airport becomes the second American Airlines location to offer customers the option to tag their own bags.

Boston and Austin were test cities for self-tagging, and for a while AAdvantage members with Elite status in Boston were being offered bonus miles as an inducement to give it a try.

During several months of feedback and tests, American observed that customers were able to speed up their check-in time (in Austin it improved by as much as 55 percent) and AUS become the first airport to offer self-tagging permanently.

It’s an easy enough process, here’s how American explains it:

Self-Tag is easy! Just follow the steps below.

Step 1: Print your bag tags at the self-service kiosk.

Step 2: Attach the bag tag to each checked bag.

Step 3: Bring your self-tagged baggage to the designated Self Tag drop-off location.

According to American’s website, self-tagging will be expanded soon to Chicago O’Hare and Reagan National.

Not sure why it’s didn’t work out in Boston….<insert Boston joke here>

Photo: American Airlines Check In Kiosks
Credit: Photo courtesy Grant Wickes on Flickr

If yesterday you had asked me to list the top five inventions in air travel I would have said:

Baked on board cookie,
in-flight wifi,
TSA Pre-Check,
in-flight on demand entertainment,
First class napkin with a button hole.

Well, as of today, I’m going to remove the napkin with a button hole (unfortunately, it’s going away anyway) and add American’s new luggage delivery service to the list:

Enhancing Your Travel Experience
Let Your Bags Meet You At Your Destination

We’ve teamed up with BAGS VIP Luggage Delivery to give you the freedom to travel light and focus on what’s most important to you. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure on your next domestic trip, enhance your airport experience by letting the luggage experts take care of your bags for you.

Sign up sounds pretty easy.  After you’ve purchased your ticket at AA.com:

Click on the “Have Your Bags Delivered” action button on the banner of the Reservation Details page and you’ll be taken to a third party site

There, you’ll sign up for an account with BAGS VIP Luggage Delivery and will input your travel information, including your American Airlines record locator

After completing your order, you’ll receive an email confirmation

If you decide to use the service after you book your flight, you can register up to two hours before your scheduled departure by selecting My Reservations from the Reservations tab located on the AA.com home page.

The cost starts at $29.95 for one bag, $39.95 for two, and $49.95 for three to ten.

I don’t always check a bag, but for those times that I do, if I can skip waiting for my suitcase, then dropping it off at the hotel, and instead go straight to a meeting…well, $30 sounds like a bargain.

And if you’re traveling with kids and luggage?  It might just be the best $50 you’ll spend on vacation!

It’s available starting August 6 and includes 200 US locations and several international cities. Go here for full details.

Photo: Bag claim
Credit: Wesley Fryer on Flickr

The Micro Luggage suitcase from Micro Mobility Systems in Germany combines the function of a scooter with a suitcase (I guess you could call it a scootcase).

It’s probably especially useful when you’re faced with a tight connection and you have to transfer between distantly separated gates.

From the product catalog:

Watch it in action:

Via The Book of Joe

Just saw this great offer on Dealnews for a TUMI McConnell International Carry-On for $249.97:

This carry-on redefines versatility with contemporary, casual styling and high-performance functionality. Made from soft-yet-durable ballistic nylon, it lets you gear up for every kind of adventure. This compact wheeled carry-on has many zippered pockets for convenience. Ships for $10.

The best price I’ve seen is $455 from Amazon. Go here for more info.