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Archive Category: In-flight

easyJet set to trial allocated seating

easyJet is to trial allocated seating on selected routes from Spring 2012.

Currently, easyJet operates an unreserved system whereby passengers simply choose which seats to occupy when they board the aircraft with those having purchased speedy boarding or travelling with young children boarding first and thus having the first choice.

On trial flights, all passengers will be allocated a specific seat.

easyJet expects demand for certain seats such as the front row seats and seats with extra leg room like those on the over wing exit rows. Those passengers who wish to guarantee one of these seats – or any other they prefer – will be able to purchase them in advance. Exact details weren’t shared but the airline stated that “prices will stay true to easyJet’s commitment to low fares”.

Passengers on the same booking who have not pre-selected a seat will be allocated seats next to each other where possible.

Carolyn McCall, easyJet CEO, said, “We look forward to seeing how our passengers respond and how the trial works. We will roll it out further only if it works operationally, from a revenue perspective and increases passenger satisfaction. If it doesn’t, we won’t.”

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Travellers switching airlines for Wi-Fi access: study

A survey in the US has indicated that more and more travellers are booking air travel based on Wi-Fi availability.

According to a recent study, one in five Gogo users say they've switched from their preferred airline to be on a flight equipped with in-flight Internet. The study also showed that more than 50 percent of business travellers and 40 percent of leisure travellers who said they switched airlines for in-flight Wi-Fi would not fly without the service for their next trip.

Booking of air travel based on Wi-Fi availability is especially true for business travellers. And they are making these decisions regardless of loyalty or rewards programmes, according to the company.

Ash ElDifrawi, Gogo’s chief marketing officer, said, “Wi-Fi on a plane is becoming a necessity for travellers, especially business travellers. Not having Wi-Fi on a plane is similar to not having Internet access or cell phone coverage in a hotel. And, not having Wi-Fi on every plane in an airlines’ fleet is similar to a hotel only offering connectivity in a few random rooms. Neither scenario is attractive to business travellers.”

As per the survey findings, checking work and personal email ranks as the number one activity followed closely by Web surfing. Some of the most popular activities to do on the web include accessing news and weather; looking at maps and directions; reading magazines and newspapers; researching restaurants and activities; shopping and gathering information; and banking.

Last week Delta Air Lines became the first airline in the world to provide in-flight Internet service onboard its regional aircraft with the launch flight of a Wi-Fi-equipped Bombardier CRJ700 operated by Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines. The airline shared that it is focusing on customer-centric technology so customers can do things such as track their bags, check the status of their next flight, check email or connect with social networks while in flight.

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Boeing, Intel boost in-flight wireless Internet

In-flight wireless Internet service is now available on more than 100 flights a day throughout the world, but the technology is still facing regulatory problems in the United States. Perhaps a new marketing agreement this week between Connexion by Boeing and Intel will help break the bureaucratic and political logjam and connectivity will soon be available to airline passengers in North America.

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Ericsson introduces in-flight GSM phones

STOCKHOLM -- Ericsson today introduced its newly developed system GSM on aircraft, allowing passengers to use their mobile phones on board commercial aircrafts while in flight. The new equipment works with GSM technology, used almost everywhere in Europe and by Cingular and T-Mobile in the U.S. It does not support the CDMA technology used by U.S. wireless operators Verizon Wireless and Sprint.

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In-flight Internet for 200,000 Siemens employees

NEW YORK -- With 200,000 employees who travel on business, the electronics and engineering firm Siemens AG has signed on as the first global customer of Connexion by Boeing for real-time high-speed in-flight Internet. the new service is being marketed for its cost-saving benefits and for enabling business travelers to use flight time as if they were in the office.

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AA, Qualcomm demonstrate in-flight phones

FORT WORTH, Texas -- American Airlines and Qualcomm are reporting a successful demonstration of in-cabin voice communications using commercially available CDMA mobile phones on a commercial aircraft. Through the use of an in-cabin third-generation (3G) “picocell” network, passengers on the test flight were able to place and receive calls as if they were on the ground.

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Boeing, StarHub to study linking in-flight access

SINGAPORE -- Connexion by Boeing and StarHub, Singapore's leading communications provider, have signed a memorandum of understanding for an associate service provider agreement that will add the Connexion by Boeing real-time, high-speed Internet service to StarHub's wireless broadband services portfolio. The two companies said customers will benefit from a simplified billing process.

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Boeing announces pricing for in-flight Internet

SEATTLE -- After a couple of years of planning and testing, pricing for in-flight Internet access has been announced, and it's surprisingly inexpensive. Connexion by Boeing has released pricing details for its high-speed in-flight Internet service scheduled to become commercially available this spring, at just under US$30 for international flights and 30-minutes for US$10.

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March 18, 2004 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Boeing, T-Systems explore in-flight WLAN link

HANOVER, Germany -- T-Systems' carrier division, International Carrier Sales & Solutions (ICSS) and Connexion by Boeing will jointly explore linking the Connexion service to T-Systems' WLAN Roaming Platform.

By connecting to the platform, Connexion by Boeing would offer real-time access to the Internet and corporate intranets to airline travelers whose mobile service provider is also connected to T-Systems' WLAN Roaming Platform when they fly on airlines with the Connexion system onboard. This would provide existing T-Systems customers with streamlined billing, customer support and in-flight access to the Internet.

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January 2, 2004 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

China Airlines latest to announce in-flight Internet

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- For in-flight, real-time Internet access, 2003 was a breakthrough year with many major airlines either launching or announcing plans for this new service for passengers. The new year starts off with China Airlines announcing intentions bring high-speed Internet connectivity to travelers on China Airlines commercial flights in and out of Taiwan.

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