In Transit Blog: In-Flight Devices, Yes. But What About the Power?

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 03 November 2013 | 17.35

Updated, 5:44 p.m. | With the Federal Aviation Administration's decision to allow passengers to use portable electronic devices throughout flights, the next question from fliers will most likely be, "So, where's the power outlet?"

Only about 1,200 of an average 22,000 domestic economy flights taking off in the United States Friday will offer A/C or USB outlets, Routehappy, the flight data Web site and search engine, said on Thursday. That's little more than 5 percent of flights spanning only six airlines: American, Delta, Hawaiian, United, US Airways and Virgin America, according to recent data analyzed by the company.

Wi-Fi and in-flight power are already important amenities for passengers, John Walton, the data director at Routehappy, said in an email. Airlines like Delta, United and US Airways have already invested significantly in outfitting their domestic fleets with it, and in September, JetBlue announced that it would begin offering satellite Wi-Fi on its Airbus fleet.

But the F.A.A.'s determination on portable devices makes the need for both Wi-Fi and the power to access it even more important. With more fliers than ever using tablets and smartphones in place of laptops, that could come out to more than an hour of extra connected time for passengers, Mr. Walton said.

"And that's particularly the case for business travelers, who often get caught in takeoff lines at busier airports," he said. "That hour delay on the tarmac is a lot less stressful if you can get some work done while your plane inches its way forward in the queue."

The new procedures are likely to  lead to new in-flight offerings as well, Mr. Walton said. Fliers can expect that airlines will look into streaming wireless entertainment like Netflix or Roku, renting iPads to passengers and offering in-flight magazines on e-readers. (Passengers will not be able to text or make or receive calls during flights.)

"Of course, the crux of the matter will be to standardize a set of rules governing what on, off and stowed mean," he said. "We've only just seen safety videos start to explain that fliers need to turn devices off-off. I can only imagine the 'I'm not texting, I'm playing Candy Crush' arguments as it all rolls out."

Delta and JetBlue Airlines have both been approved by the F.A.A. to begin offering passengers expanded use of portable electronic devices on domestic flights. Each had representatives on the agency's Portable Electronic Devices Aviation Rulemaking Committee, which evaluated the new procedures and reported its findings to the F.A.A..

"It's official! The FAA just approved @delta plans for PED customer use – effective immediately," Delta posted on Twitter this afternoon.

Delta said on Thursday that it has 570 domestic aircraft ready to comply, and that it plans to have more than 550 regional aircraft ready by the end of the year.

JetBlue has outlets available to customers sitting in "Even More Space" seats on nine of its A320 Airbuses, Anders Lindstrom, the manager of corporate communications, said in an email. But a "cabin refresh" is planned for the entire Airbus fleet, he said, which will provide power outlets to every customer on those flights. Any new JetBlue aircraft will already have outlets installed.


Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

In Transit Blog: In-Flight Devices, Yes. But What About the Power?

Dengan url

http://travelwisatawan.blogspot.com/2013/11/in-transit-blog-in-flight-devices-yes_3.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

In Transit Blog: In-Flight Devices, Yes. But What About the Power?

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

In Transit Blog: In-Flight Devices, Yes. But What About the Power?

sebagai sumbernya

0 komentar:

Posting Komentar

techieblogger.com Techie Blogger Techie Blogger