Who Owns the Passenger? How Mobile Devices are Changing the Aviation Travel Experience

According SITA that around 75% of air travelers carry smart phone, but in the same time some survey found that less than 5% of airplane passengers use electronic devices for services such as booking and checking in. (Wald, 2013). The majority of travelers use their phones to call a friend or a cab to pick them up from the airport, but they rarely make a hotel reservations or purchase airplane tickets through a cellphone application.

Airplane travelers in the near future will be allowed to use personal devices to watch videos, play games and read, this is a small benefit for the travelers resulted from the new rules of FAA. The recent rules of FAA allow travelers to use devices in a certain altitude which is below 10,000 feet, during the differences in the recent rules, the travelers will be allowed to use their devices from gate to gate. According to the FAA, air passengers are to be allowed to use their personal devices within the flight span. However, the newly adopted policies will still enforce few restrictions on electronics use. Delta Airlines announced that they will continue with their old policy, which is above 10,000 feet. (Hanna, & Hetter, 2013)

The new policy system of the FAA will provide the passenger with more convenience and therefore passengers should start taking further advantages of technology, other than making phone calls and playing games. Today’s technology allows people to make nearly any transaction with a little tab on the screen. Thus, needs such as hotel reservations and finding the proper transportation should be done through the mobile application which can usually save plenty of time and money. (Federal Aviation Administration, 2013)

The president of the Association of Flight Attendants, Veda Shook, said the change was “welcome news.” “We’re not going to run away from technology,” she said, “but we’re not going to run away from safety, either.”

Veda Shook, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants stated that changes will be made on the protocol of flight passenger management.  The flight attendants will no longer be in charge of ensuring that passengers turn off all electrical devices as the plane descended, though they would still enforce passenger storage rules.  They would ensure that all carry-on items would be stored under the seat, in an overhead bin or what will fit into the pocket on the back of the seat.

I believe, that some restrictions should be present to enhance the public safety, however, the new rules of the FAA will provide significant benefits from the connivance given to passengers boarding commercial aircrafts  

 

Hanna, J., & Hetter, K. (2013, October 31). FAA allowing most electronic device use throughout flights. CNN Travel. Retrieved November 19, 2013, from http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/31/travel/faa-portable-electronic-devices/

Greco, K. (2013, October 31). FAA to Allow Airlines to Expand Use of Personal Electronics. Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved November 19, 2013, from http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=15254

Wald, M. (2013, October 31). F.A.A. Moves to Ease Electronics Ban, Opening the Runways to Angry Birds. The New York Times. Retrieved November 19, 2013, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/business/passengers-to-be-free-to-use-electronics-on-flights-faa-says.html?_r=0

Bellamy, W. (2013, October 3). Mobile Airline Services Need Improvements, Poll Says Retrieved from http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/in-flight-connectivity/airlines/Mobile-Airline-Services-Need-Improvements-Poll-Says_80346.html#.UovH. Avionics Today. Retrieved November 19, 2013, from http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/in-flight-connectivity/airlines/Mobile-Airline-Services-Need-Improvements-Poll-Says_80346.html#.UovH_qMo6Ul