Mobile ticketing 'good for airlines and passengers'
17/12/2008 | external link
A telecoms research firm has predicted that the use of mobile technology to distribute tickets for flights is set to grow over the coming years as it is beneficial for both airlines and passengers.According to Juniper Research, mobile ticketing could prove particularly useful for business passengers owing to its speed and ease of use.The technology will also be welcome for leisure travellers, the company claimed, as it offers an extra element of reliability.Howard Wilcox, senior analyst at Juniper Research, said: "Mobile ticketing from a user perspective offers many benefits such as speed and convenience, for example for businesspeople constantly on the move."Not least of these is the reduced likelihood of losing tickets - after all, most people always take their phone with them."For airlines, Mr Wilcox said that the mobile sector represented an "additional channel" for selling their flights alongside e-ticketing.The capacity for travellers to book their flights online has been boosted recently by the launch of sites such as Just the Flight Mobile, which also provides travel news and features for handheld devices.Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2008 - Just The Flight
Lufthansa to launch mobile boarding at Heathrow
17/12/2008 | external link
Lufthansa has announced that it is to enable its passengers to use online check-in and mobile boarding pass services on flights from Heathrow Airport.The carrier said that the initiative, which will involve services to almost 400 destinations in Europe, is the result of its selection of the UK as a "key launch market" outside Germany for its mobile boarding pass service.Users of the service, which will be introduced to additional UK and European departure points over the coming months, will be able to check in online and use mobile boarding passes on all Lufthansa non-stop flights to Germany and most onward destinations in Europe.The UK launch, which will take place on October 13th, follows the successful introduction of the mobile technology in Germany last summer, which involved about 1,000 daily flights out of the country.Marianne Sammann, Lufthansa's general manager in the UK and Ireland, said: "Selecting London Heathrow as one of the key launch markets outside Germany for the mobile boarding pass clearly demonstrates just how much we value our UK customers."I am sure this new service will prove to be invaluable, particularly to business travellers, making their journeys simpler, more flexible and more convenient."Passengers can either check in online or on Lufthansa's mobile portal and receive a mobile boarding pass via email or SMS to an internet-enabled mobile phone.Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2008 - Just The Flight
Frommer's guides to be launched on smartphones
17/12/2008 | external link
Travellers who make regular use of advancements in technology could soon be able to access content from travel guide specialist Frommer's on the iPhone and iTouch, according to reports.The company is set to begin offering guides to New York, San Francisco, Paris and London, Travolution reports.Designed to work offline, the travel guides will include information on restaurants, hotels and services, as well as maps and links to useful websites.S Mark Williams, the founder of Modality, the technology firm working with Frommer's on the project, said that the ever-increasing functionality of devices such as the iPhone is enriching the travel experience for the public.Larry Olson of Wiley, the company that operates the Frommer's brand, said: "There's no doubt technology is changing the way we travel, and by partnering with Modality to bring Frommer's to the iPhone, we are positioning our content to appeal to the most savvy pleasure- and adventure-seekers in the marketplace."Another advantage of owning digital devices that offer web access is the ability to use sites such as Just the Flight Mobile, which allows customers to book flights, read destination guides and get travel news updates.Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2008 - Just The Flight
Proposals to cut European mobile charges
17/12/2008 | external link
Holidaymakers in Europe could soon be able to take advantage of lower costs for using mobile phones abroad.A member of the European Commission made the proposals for the lower roaming charges, which will be voted on next spring, possibly in time for a summer implementation.The changes could see the cost of sending a text message from a foreign EU country fall from an average of 23p to around 9p, while voice calls could be cut from 36p to 27p a minute.Viviane Reding, the EU telecoms commissioner, criticised the mobile industry for failing to reduce roaming charges voluntarily and indicated that the changes could prove useful for business travellers."Using your mobile phone abroad in the EU should not cost unjustifiably more than at home, whether for making calls, sending texts or surfing the web," Ms Reding said."Europe's 37 million tourists and 110 million business travellers are waiting for the promise of the borderless single market to finally have a positive impact on their phone bills."The changes could prove particularly welcome for British tourists in Spain, where the cost of sending a text home can be close to 50p.Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2008 - Just The Flight
Air France tests mobile boarding passes
17/12/2008 | external link
Air France has announced that it is trialling the use of boarding passes on mobile phones for flights within Europe.The service is initially being tried out on daily flights between Paris and Amsterdam.Air France describes the development as "a world premiere for international round-trip flights".In order to take part in the initiative, passengers have to register with Air France and have an electronic boarding pass or barcode sent to their mobile phone.The sent image contains all the information that would be displayed on a conventional boarding pass, including boarding time and seat number, and is scanned at the boarding gate before being checked by stewards on the plane.Personal identification is the only paper document that travellers taking part in the scheme will need.Patrick Roux, vice-president of marketing for Air France, described the service as the industry's "next major technological innovation after e-ticketing".Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2008 - Just The Flight
T-Mobile turns Terminal 5 into Wi-Fi hotspot
17/12/2008 | external link
T-Mobile has turned Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport into its largest indoor Wi-Fi hotspot in the UK.The hotspot will enable all passengers at Terminal 5 to access the internet via their mobiles, laptops and PDAs, meaning they will be able to use travel applications such as Just the Flight Mobile.Developed in partnership with airport operator BAA, the internet access zone spans an area equivalent to about 50 football pitches.T-Mobile users will also be able to access Wi-Fi services at Heathrow Airport's other terminals.Travellers who are not with T-Mobile will be able to make use of its Terminal 5 hotspot at a cost of £5 for one hour or £10 for 24 hours, payable by credit card.Ian Denchfield, head of commercial telecoms at BAA, said: "BAA has a long-standing relationship with T-Mobile, together consistently meeting passengers' expectations to ensure up-to-the-minute technology for travellers."Seamless internet connectivity is an important part of our commitment to innovation and will form a key element in the future of travel."Of the 27 million people set to pass through Terminal 5 on an annual basis, the Wi-Fi service is expected to prove particularly useful for business passengers.Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2008 - Just The Flight
American Airlines launches mobile broadband
17/12/2008 | external link
American Airlines has announced the launch of its new mobile broadband service, Gogo, provided by Aircell.The facility could prove useful for people catching connecting flights in the USA as it will be available on services from New York to Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco.American Airlines, which claims to be the world's largest air carrier, states that this service is the first full inflight broadband platform launched on the US market. Dan Garton, the airline's executive vice-president of marketing, said: "We are pleased to provide our customers with the unprecedented ability to stay connected to their family, friends and business associates on the ground via the internet while travelling at 30,000 feet above the United States."With today's launch, American Airlines makes history as the first and only US airline to offer customers full inflight internet connectivity, demonstrating once again our industry leadership and focus on our customers."The Aircell system works by turning American Airlines planes into Wi-Fi hotspots, enabling passengers to surf the internet, check their emails and send instant messages.Customers will be able to log onto the web using personal digital assistants and smartphones, through which they can access applications such as Just the Flight Mobile.Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2008 - Just The Flight
Qatar Airways enables online check-in
17/12/2008 | external link
Qatar Airways has launched an online check-in service for its customers travelling from Doha.The web check-in facility is available to all passengers, with the exception of those travelling to New York and Washington, and can be used up to 36 hours prior to departure.Customers can choose their seat before printing out a boarding pass or alternatively have their pass sent to a mobile phone.Baggage can be checked at Doha International Airport's fast bag-drop points, while people with carry-on luggage can proceed straight to the gate after passing through security.The online check-in service is one of a number of initiatives that Qatar Airways is currently working on to improve the airport experience for its passengers.Akbar Al Baker, the carrier's chief executive officer, said: "Over the past 12 months, Qatar Airways has invested in time and resources to develop a new range of online initiatives to provide passengers with an improved travel experience."He added: "We have now taken our online service to new levels with a check-in facility…giving more control to passengers, allowing them to print their own boarding passes and even have the boarding passes sent to their mobile phones."Qatar Airways' network of flights to Doha connects the city to a number of gateways in the UK, including Heathrow Airport, Manchester Airport and Glasgow Airport.Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2008 - Just The Flight
Just the Flight Mobile wins top technology award
17/12/2008 | external link
The Online Regional Travel Group (ORTG) won a major technology award at the recent Isle of Man Awards for Excellence in recognition of its travel portal Just the Flight Mobile.ORTG chief executive Brian Kelly attended the awards ceremony to pick up the top accolade in the Effective Use of Technology category.More than 100 award nominees, which were chosen by the Manx public, were whittled down to three finalists in 16 different categories, which recognised everything from small businesses to volunteers.Just the Flight Mobile became the world's first global flight booking engine for mobile phones when it was launched in August 2008.Mr Kelly said that ORTG's new application had "broken the tie with the PC".He added: "We have had significant interest from within the travel industry and bookings are being made through our mobile booking option."It is a very exciting time for Just the Flight Mobile. Even in these difficult times we still have a huge number of opportunities to grow our business in 2009 and beyond."As well as enabling users to book flights, Just the Flight Mobile provides travel news, features and destination guides to mobile phones and personal digital assistants.Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2008 - Just The Flight
Ofcom reiterates support for cap on roaming charges
17/12/2008 | external link
UK communications watchdog Ofcom has reiterated its support for EU proposals which could lead to a cap on the charges paid by travellers who use mobile services abroad.The EU initiative could lead to a cap of €0.11 (9p) on charges for roaming text messages, compared to the current average of €0.29 per message across Europe.Costs of downloading data to mobile devices could also be capped at €1 per megabyte of data transferred.Elizabeth De Winton, communications manager at Ofcom, expressed the watchdog's support for these plans and said it had been calling for such action for some time."We welcome the Commission's proposal to introduce a wholesale and a retail cap on text roaming. We also welcome moves to protect consumers from 'bill shock' when using data services abroad," she said."In particular, Ofcom welcomes moves to tackle the practice of rounding up calls to the nearest minute for billing."EU ministers will discuss the proposals in spring 2009, possibly in time for them to be passed by the summer.Mobile devices are becoming an increasingly important tool for travellers, with platforms such as Just the Flight Mobile allowing users of BlackBerrys, iPhones and other handheld devices to book flights and keep up with travel news while on the move.Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2008 - Just The Flight
Delta Airlines launches inflight internet service
17/12/2008 | external link
Delta Airlines has announced that the Gogo inflight internet service has been made available onboard six of its domestic planes, which are the first of 300 aircraft that will eventually provide the service.The inflight technology will initially be launched on planes operating shuttle routes from La Guardia Airport in New York to Boston Logan Airport and Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington.Users of smartphones, personal digital assistants and other such devices will be able to access the internet via the Gogo system, meaning they will be able to use mobile internet applications such as Just the Flight Mobile.Tim Mapes, Delta's senior vice president of marketing, said: "In-flight internet access is one of the most popular requests we receive from our customers."Delta's launch of Gogo onboard these first Delta aircraft demonstrates our continued commitment to providing our customers with the options they want and value when they travel with us."Gogo already has contracts with American Airlines and Virgin America for the provision of inflight internet access.It will soon be working with Air Canada, an airline that operates flights to UK hubs including Heathrow Airport and Manchester Airport.British airline bmi has announced that it is to trial an inflight communications system providing internet access for laptop users.Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2008 - Just The Flight
Bmi to trial mobile communications system
17/12/2008 | external link
Bmi has announced that it is trialling an inflight mobile communications system and claimed that it is the first British carrier to offer such a facility.The new inflight technology will enable the sending of messages from mobile phones and also offer internet access for laptops fitted with GSM data cards.Supplied by OnAir, the service will be tested for six months on bmi flights from London Heathrow to Moscow.The trial has been made possible by the granting of telecommunications regulatory approval by government watchdog Ofcom.Peter Spencer, managing director of bmi, said: "We are delighted to be working with OnAir to make this service available to customers. It opens up an exciting new era of travellers being able to stay in touch by text message and email whilst in the air."A bmi survey suggests that the facility could prove particularly useful for business travellers, who said that their key concerns are getting through airports quickly and being able to continue working during their flight.Cheap Flights and Travel News - © 2008 - Just The Flight
