Kayak adds AR-powered bag measurement tool, Siri Shortcuts to mobile app

Kayak wants to help travelers have confidence their carry-on bags meet airline restrictions.

The company has added a new option in its mobile app that uses a smartphone’s camera and augmented reality to instantly measure a piece of luggage.

Users first scan the floor to calibrate measurements and then move the camera around their bag.

The tool calculates the bag’s exact measurements, so the traveler knows whether it qualifies as a carry-on or will need to be checked. The tool also shows baggage size and fee policies for all airlines.

The bag measurement tool is currently only available in the latest version of Kayak’s iOS app.

Kayak has also enabled a new “Siri Shortcut” capability in its iOS app. Users can create a custom voice command in the app that prompts Siri to pull up all of their trip plans.

So rather than scrolling through emails to look for confirmations and reservations, a user can say a phrase such as “travel plans” in the app and all details for their current trip will appear.

The AR functionality and Siri Shortcuts are two new features of iOS 12 operating system that released September 17.