Bummer. If true that basically nullifies the entire benefit of this. The tag printing part is less than 5% of the time spent by each person while they stand at the counter. Though I guess if eventually everyone did this the savings might start to add up to something minimally significant.

As sibling comment noted, bag tracking via RFID already exists. Getting rid of that incredibly annoying long line everyone has to wait in to check bags, however, would be a real innovation.

Alaska is claiming that travelers can save up to 40% off of check in time at the airport with this method, so I guess time will tell if that claim is true.