The disclosure describes a method and system for luggage management involving electronically acquiring an originating International Air Transport Association (IATA) bag tag number from a luggage item's bag tag associated with an originating travel carrier. The method recycles the IATA bag tag number that would otherwise be discarded as a unique identifier to query a database for an expanded or universal baggage source message (UBSM) that enumerates a passenger's travel path or itinerary to off-airport locations. The method and system accommodate various modes of travel and lodging entities and provide capabilities to track the location of passenger's luggage, transport the luggage to specific locations enumerated in the travel itinerary of the passenger such as a hotel room or cruise ship cabin, and update the UBSM of the current status and location of the luggage in off-airport locations.

The disclosure describes a method for luggage management involving electronically acquiring an originating hardcopy bag tag identifier (OP-BTI) from a luggage item's bag tag associated with an originating travel carrier. The method uses the OP-BTI as a unique identifier to query a database for expanded baggage information messages that enumerate a passenger's travel path using a different mode of travel from the originating travel carrier. This process includes checking in a luggage item for the passenger using information from the expanded baggage information messages. The method accommodates various modes of travel and lodging entities, and it includes different acquiring devices for the OP-BTI, such as scanning or radio-frequency communication.

The disclosure describes a method for luggage management involving electronically acquiring an originating hardcopy bag tag identifier (OP-BTI) from a luggage item's bag tag associated with an originating travel carrier. The method uses the OP-BTI as a unique identifier to query a database for expanded baggage information messages that enumerate a passenger's travel path using a different mode of travel from the originating travel carrier. This process includes checking in a luggage item for the passenger using information from the expanded baggage information messages. The method accommodates various modes of travel and lodging entities, and it includes different acquiring devices for the OP-BTI, such as scanning or radio-frequency communication.

The disclosure describes a method and system for luggage management involving simulated baggage information messaging. Disclosed systems may include a processor and a memory storing instructions cause the at least one processor to: check in a luggage item of a passenger with a flight; and generate a simulated baggage information message using a passenger name record (PNR) number as a temporary unique identifier. The simulated baggage information message may be compatible with IATA B-Type messages. Additionally, the system may assign, by a remote simulated Departure Control System (DCS), an International Air Transport Association (IATA) compatible bag tag number that has a non-flying airline carrier code configured to be processed through an airline baggage handling system. Additional systems may populate the simulated baggage information message with the assigned bag tag number and merge the simulated baggage information message with an airline baggage source message associated with the checked in luggage item.

The disclosure describes a method and system for luggage management involving simulated baggage information messaging. Disclosed systems may include a processor and a memory storing instructions cause the at least one processor to: check in a luggage item of a passenger with a flight; and generate a simulated baggage information message using a passenger name record (PNR) number as a temporary unique identifier. The simulated baggage information message may be compatible with IATA B-Type messages. Additionally, the system may assign, by a remote simulated Departure Control System (DCS), an International Air Transport Association (IATA) compatible bag tag number that has a non-flying airline carrier code configured to be processed through an airline baggage handling system. Additional systems may populate the simulated baggage information message with the assigned bag tag number and merge the simulated baggage information message with an airline baggage source message associated with the checked in luggage item.

The present invention is an apparatus and method for validating a ticket to an event, which is being sold or otherwise transferred in the aftermarket. A management system maintains the status of a ticket, either committed or uncommitted, along with a ticket ID and other ticket and event information. An event entry system requires presentation of a ticket and, if the ticket has been committed, a correct current passkey. The passkey identifies the person presenting the ticket as the owner of the ticket. Ticket validation and uncommitment functionalities are also provided by an after-market ticket validation system.

The present invention is an apparatus and method for validating a ticket to an event, which is being sold or otherwise transferred in the aftermarket. A management system maintains the status of a ticket, either committed or uncommitted, along with a ticket ID and other ticket and event information. An event entry system requires presentation of a ticket and, if the ticket has been committed, a correct current passkey. The passkey identifies the person presenting the ticket as the owner of the ticket. Ticket validation and uncommitment functionalities are also provided by an after-market ticket validation system.

Provided is a system and method of facilitating check-in of a luggage item of a passenger. the method includes: a) obtaining, by at least one of at least one processor, image data representative of at least one image of printed passenger information associated with an airline travel carrier on an originating hardcopy bag tag or a printed instrument having at least a portion of the printed passenger information on the originating hardcopy bag tag to create a digital passenger information (DPI) data record linked to the airline travel carrier, wherein the originating hardcopy bag tag is issued for the luggage item of the passenger, and wherein the DPI data record includes machine-encoded text of an International Air Transport Association (IATA) license plate number; b) accessing a B-type message including a passenger name record (PNR) number of the passenger, by at least one of the at least one processor, using the machine-encoded text of the IATA license plate number from a computer system associated with the airline travel carrier; c) retrieving check-in information of a return flight of the passenger with a designated return travel carrier, by at least one of the at least one processor, using PNR data associated with the PNR number; and d) checking in during a check-in window, by at least one of the at least one processor, the luggage item, the passenger, or a combination thereof, with the designated return travel carrier based on the retrieved check-in information for the return flight.

Provided is a system and method of facilitating check-in of a luggage item of a passenger. the method includes: a) obtaining, by at least one of at least one processor, image data representative of at least one image of printed passenger information associated with an airline travel carrier on an originating hardcopy bag tag or a printed instrument having at least a portion of the printed passenger information on the originating hardcopy bag tag to create a digital passenger information (DPI) data record linked to the airline travel carrier, wherein the originating hardcopy bag tag is issued for the luggage item of the passenger, and wherein the DPI data record includes machine-encoded text of an International Air Transport Association (IATA) license plate number; b) accessing a B-type message including a passenger name record (PNR) number of the passenger, by at least one of the at least one processor, using the machine-encoded text of the IATA license plate number from a computer system associated with the airline travel carrier; c) retrieving check-in information of a return flight of the passenger with a designated return travel carrier, by at least one of the at least one processor, using PNR data associated with the PNR number; and d) checking in during a check-in window, by at least one of the at least one processor, the luggage item, the passenger, or a combination thereof, with the designated return travel carrier based on the retrieved check-in information for the return flight.

Disclosed methods and systems for handling luggage via baggage source message generation are disclosed. Various systems may include: a processor; and non-transitory, tangible memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing at least one instruction, and the processor being configured to execute the at least one instruction. The processor may obtain an International Air Transport Association (IATA) license plate number of the checked luggage item on an air carrier from one of a field in a first baggage information message, a computer system associated with an airline carrier being an originator of the IATA license plate or a manifest; and generate a second baggage information message that includes the IATA license plate number and at least one of a primary identifier (ID) from a baggage handling system that links to a security screening image of the checked luggage item or information associated with a contents list.