Alaska Airlines, the carrier that has tested solar-powered passenger ramps and fingerprint identification devices for passengers, is continuing to experiment.
The Seattle-based airline has begun testing an electronic, reusable luggage tag that is linked to a passenger’s Alaska Airlines mobile app.
Here’s how it works: Once you buy a ticket on Alaska and check in using the mobile app, the app asks whether you want to activate your electronic bag tag. When you turn on your electronic tag, the Bluetooth technology in your phone synchs with the tag and displays your flight’s destination on the tag’s tiny screen.
The goal of the tag and previous Alaska experiments is to make air travel more expedient, said Loesje Degroen, Alaska’s customer research and development manager.
Alaska began testing the electronic tag with 60 employees last summer and is now trying the technology with about 50 passengers. Later this year, Degroen said, the carrier plans to expand the test to about 500 passengers.
Some of Alaska’s experiments don’t pan out. Alaska still lets passengers use their fingerprints to access the airline’s five airport lounges, and the solar panels are still powering ramps at airports in San Jose, Palm Springs, Seattle and Portland, Ore.
But a test last summer to let passengers board using only their fingerprints for identification at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport ended without being expanded. Alaska officials would not call the test a failure, saying only that they will think of other ways to use biometrics.
Source: Los Angeles Times, March 27, 2016 -- Hugo Martin
MEDIA CONTACT:
KATY LASEE | MARKETING DEPT.
651 554 8533
KRLasee@traveltags.com
Green Dot announced that prepaid card users will once again be able to load money onto their cards with a MoneyPak. The MoneyPaks will be available in Kroger and Rite Aid stores starting this month, and will soon show up in a variety of retailers nationwide.
The MoneyPak program was temporarily closed down as a means to enhance security. After a series of Green Dot prepaid card scams, the company shut down the MoneyPak reload option in order to create a “new system for mitigating the potential for misuse of the product,” according to Green Dot’s Chief Executive Steve Streit.
The scammers were finding creative ways to get people to reveal their debit card numbers and PINs, much like they would use for a standard bank debit card. With that information, the scammers could either pull money from the cards or make purchases without the cardholder’s authorization.
MoneyPak cards cost $5.95 to purchase, and can be loaded with $20 to $500. That money can then be loaded onto a Green Dot reloadable MasterCard or Visa through MoneyPak.com.
In addition to using MoneyPak, Green Dot cardholders can add money to their accounts through direct deposit, mobile check deposit, and through a network of merchants that allow users to load at the registers. The money put onto the cards can be used anywhere Visa and MasterCard are accepted.
Source: LowCards.com, April 25, 2016 -- John H. Oldshue
MEDIA CONTACT:
KATY LASEE | MARKETING DEPT.
651 554 8533
KRLasee@traveltags.com
Inver Grove Heights, MN - Travel Tags, Inc. received an award for outstanding achievement in the Cards Category in the annual Star of Excellence Awards, a five-state printing competition hosted by the Printing Industry Midwest, the region’s trade association for the printing, communication and graphic arts industry.
Competing against entries from printing and graphic arts firms throughout the Midwest, TTi received a Certificate of Merit. The company’s winning submission was a TTi branded holiday card sent to customers and vendors during the Winter season. The tri-fold piece is a whimsical and friendly nod to the infamous Yeti and his winter friends. Internal die cuts help frame the scene of blue sky and snowcapped mountains, with a CR80 affixed inside of the Yeti letting recipients know he's "Getting Yeti for the Holidays!"
“We are very proud of our winning team, said Jeff Horst, Creative Director. “It is an honor to be recognized by the industry as a company that produces top quality, award winning materials.”
PIM President David Radziej agrees, “This was a close competition with a very impressive standard of entries. The judging process was very challenging. Travel Tags, Inc. should be proud of the company’s achievement and the excellent work done by employees.”
The Star of Excellence Awards recognize those responsible for the creation and production of print communications in the Midwest. The competition promotes excellence in print communica¬tions and rewards companies and individuals who produce the best in print media.
For more information about the Printing Industry Midwest and the Star of Excellence Awards, call Lola Fau¬fau at 612.400.6210.
MEDIA CONTACT:
KATY LASEE | MARKETING DEPT.
651 554 8533
KRLasee@traveltags.com
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