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Losing your luggage on a flight could soon be a thing of the past after an airline developed a bag that is impossible to lose. According to the latest industry figures, about 4 pieces of luggage will be lost on the average Boeing 747 flight. Passengers are most likely to lose a bag when changing flights, especially if the connection time is short.
One of the major reasons for luggage being lost is that the paper tags carrying the bar code(條形碼) are ripped off as cases are shunted(使……轉(zhuǎn)軌) along conveyor belts to the aircraft. It was this that led to the loss of thousands of bags at London's Heathrow Airport in March, 2008.
This luggage technology, known as Bag2Go, involves fixing a satellite tracker and a bar code onto the suitcase. Using a smart phone, a passenger sends details of their flight to the airline which in turn sends back a bar code which is shown on the display unit of the case. Each bar code is unique carrying details of the traveller, flight and destination.
Once on board a plane, a passenger can use a smart phone application to check that the bag is in place and inform flight crew if it's not there. Should the bag be loaded onto the wrong plane, satellite technology and the bar code means that it will be easily traced. It will enable the case to be delivered to the correct destination and returned to its owner.
At the same time, the passenger can keep track of the bag with the help of a mobile phone application, which has a number of functions, including informing a passenger if somebody tries to tamper(胡亂擺弄) with the bag.
The technology is still being developed by Airbus, TSystems, a telecommunications company and RIMOWA, a suitcase manufacturer.
Passengers will be able to buy the bags, although renting them is another possibility. The advanced technology means that there may be no luggage conveyor belts in our future, as the satellite technology could mean bags are transported independently and directly from your house to the airplane's hold, and finally to your hotel.
9.What problem is the luggage technology meant to solve?
A.The problem of delayed flights.
B.The problem of too much luggage on board.
C.The problem of boarding the wrong flight.
D.The problem of missing one's luggage.
10.What do we know about“Bag2Go”according to the passage?
A.It is equipped with a satellite tracker and a bar code.
B.Passengers can have their luggage at hand when boarding the plane.
C.It is only designed to get the lost luggage back.
D.It can transport your luggage directly to your hotel.
11.What information is carried on the bar code mentioned in Paragraph 3?
A.The details of what is put inside the luggage.
B.The details of the traveller, flight and destination.
C.When and where the passenger can change flights.
D.The introduction of the Boeing 747 flight.
12.What will happen to a suitcase with the new bar code when it's loaded onto the wrong plane?
A.The flight crew will inform the passenger that the bag is not in place.
B.No one will be able to tamper with the bag once it's traced.
C.The case will be delivered to the correct destination and returned to its owner.
D.The satellite tracker will send out warning message to the airport.
