WorldTracer

WorldTracer is a baggage tracing and management system used in commercial aviation to locate and manage passenger baggage across airline and airport networks. It is operated by SITA, a technology provider for the air transport industry, and is widely deployed by airlines and airports to support baggage handling, lost luggage claims, and interline baggage movement.

Each checked bag is associated with a WorldTracer record created when the bag is tagged. As the bag moves through the network, barcode scans and status updates are entered by airline and airport staff, flagging events such as 'checked,' 'transferred,' 'found,' 'delayed,' or 'arrived.' The system enables real-time visibility of bag location across participating carriers and stations and supports messaging between carriers.

Passengers can file a lost baggage report and monitor the status via airline customer service or self-service kiosks; staff can initiate claim processing and coordinate baggage delivery. It also supports interline baggage handling so that baggage can be transferred between airlines. It integrates with other systems like baggage handling systems (BHS) and passenger service systems.

The system improves the efficiency of baggage recovery, reduces average claim times, and enhances customer service. It requires robust data management, secure access controls, and adherence to privacy and data protection standards; since it handles personal data, access is restricted to authorized personnel.

WorldTracer was developed by SITA and has evolved since its introduction in the 1990s, adapting to digital bag tags and mobile interfaces while maintaining broad adoption among major airlines and airports worldwide.