Articles
It seems that all devices are “smart” these days, whether it’s our phones, watches or TVs – and in many cases the smart label is a tad too generous.
Joining this ever-expanding rank of intelligent consumer goods is the Bluesmart suitcase.
This compact piece of luggage provides GPS location tracking, remote locking using your smartphone’s Bluetooth, an internal battery with two USB charging points, and a built-in digital scale for weighing the contents.
Users are asked to download the Bluesmart phone app, which is very easy to use, so that you can access the location data to track your suitcase’s whereabouts, remotely lock it, see how much your luggage weighs, and store your flight itinerary.
Its slightly annoying “travel assistant” mode will send you nagging notifications reminding you to pack for your trip the next day, but also provides useful updates on boarding and gates for your flights.
In theory the Bluesmart’s array of technology, combined with the app, should overcome some of the regular traveller’s luggage bugbears, including electronic devices dying in the airport lounge, incurring fees for going over carry-on weight restrictions, or even the dreaded lost luggage scenario.
However, there are some flaws to iron out. The distance alerts that notify your phone if you move too far from your bag can be irksome and do not appear to be able to be switched off from your phone. Instead this must be done “as a last resort” using a button inside the case. And at 7.5kg when empty, the case is heavy for a carry-on piece of luggage.
This is a nifty all-in-one device that could be very useful for the frequent flyer but at £349 it will be too costly for the average holidaymaker.