CallUma, the travel services specialist, has completed a highly successful trial of its unique Tag ’n’ Traq service in conjunction with Manchester Airport. For the first time, travellers passing through the Airport were offered the opportunity to take advantage of CallUma’s unique luggage tracking service.

Through the service, customers are provided with durable, luggage tags with a unique tracking number. Personal details are safely stored on CallUma’s database system and not on the tag, the tracking number is assigned to the account and printed onto the tag so that missing luggage can be quickly and easily traced back to the customer – meaning that the customer’s identity remains anonymous.

The luggage tags are printed with international telephone numbers so, if luggage goes astray overseas, baggage handlers worldwide can call an operator and speak to them in his or her language to ensure luggage is returned to the customer with the minimum of fuss.

Luggage tags were available at highly visible distribution points throughout Terminal 2, and over the course of 40 days 5000 people paid £2.50 for the service. This constitutes an impressive take-up rate of 2.6 % - or nearly 50% of people spoken to.

CallUma launched the new luggage tag design in November 2009 and has already received orders for over 10 million tags from leading travel companies. Amongst a number of white label deals CallUma provides its services to the Manchester United travel club, offering supporters Manchester United branded tags and services.

Tony Partridge, Chief Executive of CallUma, commented: “Customers still want to put luggage tags on their bags, although sadly life has changed and people now have to be very cautious about displaying personal information. 42 million items of luggage went missing in 2009 alone, and we are proud to provide a simple and easy to use solution to this problem and peace of mind to customers travelling through Manchester Airport. We look forward to working with them in future.”

Following the successful trial, CallUma is set to offer services at all four of the Manchester Airports Group’s airports - Manchester, East Midlands, Bournemouth and Humberside – which currently serve a total of more than 28 million passengers every year.

Andrew Harrison, Commercial Director for Manchester Airport, said: “Manchester Airport is focused on providing its customers with enhanced services that are over and above standard practice. We are delighted to be breaking new ground with CallUma, as part of a new range of offers made available in ‘The Travel Extras Store’. We’re pleased to see that the public have been very receptive to the service.”