(Reuters – NBCNews.com Travel)
Photo: Flying Clean
On Monday, Flying Clean, an alliance launched by several nongovernmental organizations seeking to reduce carbon emissions from airplanes, hosted a panel of United Airlines’ most frequent elite flyers, including billionaire investor Tom Steyer, imploring the big airline to stop blocking climate change actions.
Read the full story here.
[Fstoppers.com & NPR]
In a recent blog post by Fstoppers.com, the issue of “unauthorized photography or video recording” is explored based on a recent NPR story about a woman who was kicked off an American Airlines flight for singing a Whitney Houston song – non-stop. In a related video, crew members are heard telling passengers they are not allowed to film or photograph onboard the plane. Really?
The post cites American Airlines official statement: “The use of still and video cameras, film or digital, is permitted only for recording of personal events. Unauthorized photography or video recording of airline personnel, other customers, aircraft equipment or procedures is strictly prohibited.”
What do you think? Read the full post here.
Photo provided by Delta Airlines
Delta Air Lines is previewing its renovation of John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal 4 (T4), part of a $1.4 billion redevelopment at JFK, with an experiential space in Manhattan called “T4X.” The space will be open to the public, May 1-22, and showcase JFK T4’s new features, including Delta Sky Priority® check-in, the new flagship Delta Sky Club® and The Sky Deck™ at Delta Sky Club, a stylish outdoor terrace.
“T4X is a showcase of not only the investments that we have made in T4, but also represents the larger investment that Delta has made in our products and technology across the system,” said Tim Mapes, Delta’s senior vice president, Marketing.
T4X is located at 376 West Broadway and Broome, in the heart of Soho, Manhattan. The space will be open May 1- 22, Tuesdays through Sundays, and open to the public 11am – 3pm. For more information, visit www.delta.com/t4x
Don’t forget to check Delta Flight and Upgrade availability with ExpertFlyer.
Photo credit: (cc) Danny Key via Flickr
According to a report from Tnooz, FlightView, a “day-of-travel” information service, surveyed more than 3,000 of its users and found that a lack of functionality and inferior interfaces are the main barriers to wider adoption of mobile booking.
Flexible flight search and the ability to follow and track flights are among the features mobile-centric travelers have grown accustomed to. In an interview with Flightview CEO, Mike Benjamin, Tnooz asked, “What are steps brands can take to improve functionality and the user experience?”
“Mobile has many limitations, like screen size and the lack of a keyboard. More than half of our survey respondents said the sheer difficulty in entering all the required information on mobile devices holds them back from making more mobile purchases.”
“For airlines, the key to driving more mobile purchases is improving the information architecture and navigation on mobile applications, such as reducing the clutter on a flight search results page and enabling the user to filter, sort, and drill into details as desired. Also, it is important to determine what information can be stored in user profiles so travelers can avoid having to re-enter information with each purchase,” says Benjamin.
Read the full article and survey at http://www.tnooz.com/2013/04/29/news/lack-of-functionality-remains-barrier-to-mobile-flight-booking-adoption/#HcyWr5jqchZ51gfk.99
(Wall Street Journal)
Plusgrade auction technology
New York-based Plusgrade, a sophisticated software auction platform that enables airlines to offer travelers the opportunity to upgrade their travel experience, may be powering a new trend in air travel, awards and upgrades.
The Wall Street Journal reports that airlines overseas have started auctioning off upgrades, with travelers in economy or premium-economy cabins bidding against each other for seats that offer better space, food, service and sleep. Plusgrade’s chief executive, Ken Harris, stated in an interview with WSJ that the auction technology may be coming to the U.S. soon.
Read the full WSJ article here.