In the news: Air New Zealand’s vision of future inflight service, TripAdvisor’s revamped iOS mobile app, flydubai in new partnerhips with Amadeus
AIRLINES: IS THIS THE FUTURE OF INFLIGHT SERVICE? A SNEAK PREVIEW FROM AIR NEW ZEALAND
The futuristic headset can even detect the customer’s mood. (Image credit: Air New Zealand)
On your next flight on Air New Zealand in the near future you may just have a flight attendant wearing a headset attending to you who could tell you how you are feeling at that moment or what you wish to eat.
This innovative airline, which has made headlines with some of its creative safety videos, is testing Augmented Reality (AR) technology to give travellers a taste of what the future of inflight service could look like.
The carrier has been working with information technology service provider, Dimension Data, on unique software for Microsoft’s AR viewer HoloLens.
The futuristic headset could support cabin crew as they carry out their inflight duties by aggregating and displaying key customer information directly in front of them.
It could also display data such as a customer’s preferred meal and drinks choice, onward travel and loyalty membership details.
The programme is even sophisticated enough to detect the mood of the customer by picking up on visual and audio cues.
Air New Zealand chief digital officer Avi Golan said the airline has fostered a strong culture of experimentation with new and emerging technologies such as the HoloLens.
“This software is a great example of us collaborating with other partners and exploring how technology could enhance the way our people work as well as the experience they deliver to our customers through greater personalisation,” he added.
The programme, currently at an experimental stage, could also allow the airline’s cabin crew to move to a paperless inflight system presenting added environmental benefits.
Flying will never be the same again.
• Video: The airline explains the working of the HoloLens and says it will not replace personalised service.
MOBILE: A REDESIGNED TRIPADVISOR APP
Easier for travellers to buy travel with the new app
Travel site TripAdvisor has unveiled a new native iOS app that it says will make it easier for travellers to organise their trips.
The newly designed app has a simpler and streamlined design with updated categories including ‘Things to Do’ and ‘Restaurants’, which now adapt to user preferences and make customised recommendations based on machine learning.
Other new features include:
- ‘Best Value’ hotel rankings: Hotels ranked and sorted based on factors such as traveller ratings, hotel rates, booking popularity, brand affinity and location.
- ‘Traveller Ranked’ filter: Search for top-rated hotels based on quality or quantity of reviews
- Itinerary & trip collaboration: Save and create trips, or collaborate with friends and family on the must-dos through a new feature called ‘My Trips.’
- 360-degree photos: Give a first-hand look inside hotels.
- Vaulted credit card feature: Makes the platform’s instant booking function safe, easy and quick for users.
“Travellers want to know they’re getting the best value on a hotel and other parts of the trip, and we have now redesigned our app to make sure they do just that,” said Stephen Kaufer, chief executive officer and co-founder of TripAdvisor.
The company said the new app design was a result of feedback from thousands of users.
“We are a resource for travellers by travellers and it was important to make sure we were getting our community’s input as we evolved our experience,” said Barbara Messing, TripAdvisor’s chief marketing officer.
The iOS app is now available in the 48 markets where TripAdvisor operates, and is a free download in the Apple App store. The app for Android and the mobile and desktop websites will roll out in the near future.
TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY: FLYDUBAI TAPS INTO AMADEUS TECHNOLOGY FOR ITS REWARDS PROGRAMME
It’s Amadeus technology for OPEN programme (Image credit: flydubai)
Dubai-based flydubai has chosen Amadeus as a technology partner for its new rewards (loyalty) programme, OPEN.
Nahed Al Kheily, vice president of ancillary revenue at flydubai, said it chose Amadeus Loyalty Management suite for “its flexible capabilities” to help the airline “improve the customer experience and personalise our offering.”
He added that the OPEN programme is “simple and straightforward giving members the ability to earn points easily, spend points at any time, flexibility on how they pay and can earn points together.”
Members of OPEN earns one reward point for every US$1 spent, meaning they earn reward points with every flight, and they can redeem them for flights on any day, to any destination.
Travellers can team up with family and friends to pool points, and the programme also includes a co-branded credit card through a partnership with Dubai Islamic Bank, said flydubai.
• Featured image credit: Air New Zealand
