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United Airlines Launches Satellite Based Wi-Fi Service

I have been on a few very long flights over the years, and I always find myself with the same problem, what on earth am I going to do for eight hours in one seat?  The first couple of times was before iPods were invented and laptops were something that everyone had.  Once I was able to have those the flights were better, but there was still something missing: the internet.

Inflight Wi-Fi is becoming relatively commonplace these days using air-to-ground technology that provides varying levels of service.  Unfortunately, that technology is not really practical when it comes to flying over the oceans.  United Airlines has the answer to that problem by providing satellite-based Wi-Fi internet connectivity.  The full press release can be found below.

It will be interesting to see how successful this is, and how many other carriers follow suit in the never ending battle of “keeping up with the Jones’s” that is the airline industry.  United is certainly going all-in with this move as they plan to have the technology installed on 300 of their mainline aircraft by the end of the year.

I for one think this is great, and with a starting price of only $3.99 I think it will be wildly popular.  The price can go as high as $20 for long haul flights using their Accelerated speed option, but even that isn’t terrible for a long flight.

As much as I hate how you have to pay for everything on flights these days I really think this is quite reasonable.  The airline is having to invest quite substantially to make this happen, and is asking a very reasonable price for customers to use it.  This is also a new service, as opposed to all of the things that we were used to getting for free that we now have to pay for.

Press Release

CHICAGO, Jan. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — United Airlines has introduced onboard satellite-based Wi-Fi internet connectivity on the first of its international widebody aircraft, becoming the first U.S.-based international carrier to offer customers the ability to stay connected while traveling on long-haul overseas routes.

The aircraft, a Boeing 747 outfitted with Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s Ku-band satellite technology, serves trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific routes.

Additionally, United has outfitted Ku-band satellite Wi-Fi on two Airbus 319 aircraft serving domestic routes, offering customers faster inflight Internet service than air-to-ground technology (ATG). The company expects to complete installation of satellite-based Wi-Fi on 300 mainline aircraft by the end of this year.

“Satellite-based Wi-Fi service enables us to better serve our customers and offer them more of what they want in a global airline,” said Jim Compton, vice chairman and chief revenue officer at United. “With this new service, we continue to build the airline that customers want to fly.”

Customers have the choice of two speeds: Standard, priced initially between $3.99 and $14.99 depending on the duration of flight, and Accelerated, priced initially between $5.99 and $19.99 and offering faster download speeds than Standard.

United will install satellite-based Wi-Fi on Airbus 319 and 320 aircraft, and on Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, 777 and 787 aircraft. Customers will be able to use their wireless devices such as laptops, smart phones and tablets onboard those aircraft to connect with internet service using the in-flight hotspot.

United is upgrading its fleet with more than $550 million in additional onboard improvements, including:

  • Offering the world’s largest fleet of aircraft with flat-bed seats, with more than 175 aircraft with 180-degree flat beds in premium cabins once the airline completes the installation in the second quarter.
  • Expanding extra-legroom Economy Plus seating to provide the most such seating of any U.S. carrier.
  • Revamping the transcontinental “p.s.” fleet of airplanes that fly between New York Kennedy and Los Angeles and San Francisco, offering an improved premium cabin with fully flat beds, Wi-Fi Internet service, and personal on-demand entertainment at every seat.
  • Improving inflight entertainment options with streaming video content on the Boeing 747-400 fleet.
  • Retrofitting overhead bins on 152 Airbus aircraft, allowing for significantly greater storage of carry-on baggage.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,557 flights a day to 378 airports on six continents from the airline’s hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. United is upgrading its cabins with more flat-bed seats in first and business class and more extra-legroom economy-class seating than any other airline in North America. United now has 180 airplanes featuring DIRECTV®, offering customers more live television access than any other airline in the world. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft and has orders for more than 270 new aircraft deliveries through 2022. In 2012, United was the first North American airline to take delivery of new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. United was rated the world’s most admired airline on FORTUNE magazine’s 2012 airline-industry list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Readers of Global Traveler magazine have voted United’s MileagePlus program the best frequent flyer program for nine consecutive years. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 193 countries via 27 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com or follow United on Twitter and Facebook. The common stock of United’s parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

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January 19, 2013 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.

Filed Under: Aviation  Aviation Technology  Commercial Aviation  Press Release  United Airlines
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United Airlines Launches New Baggage Delivery Service

The airline industry is constantly looking for ways to increase revenue.  As gas prices go up they are forced to look at every avenue possible to bring in more cash.  We have seen pretty much everything that used to be free now only be available at a cost.  Meals, snacks, drinks, and baggage charges are common place on most carriers these days.

United is now offering a service that is new to the industry but that could save you some time once you arrive at your destination.

BagsVIP is their new offering to deliver your bags to your house or hotel so you don’t have to wait around at baggage claim.  I could see this being incredibly valuable for all kinds of different travelers.

People with kids can help to alleviate their stress a little but walking off the plane and heading straight to their hotel.  Business travelers who may be in a rush to get to a meeting can save crucial minutes.  While many business travelers don’t usually check bags, this may allow them to do so and not have to be so frugal with their travel amenities.

This is one of the more reasonable options that I have seen an airline offer that really provides a nice service.  I would not be surprised to see more of the airlines, if not all of them provide a similar service in the very near future.

The full press release can be found below.

OFFERS CUSTOMERS THE OPTION TO HAVE CHECKED BAGS DELIVERED TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATIONS

CHICAGO, Jan. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — United Airlines today launched a new baggage delivery option, enabling customers to have their checked bags delivered directly to their final destinations – within 100 miles of their arrival airports – and skip baggage claim upon arrival. Baggage delivery by BagsVIP will initially be available to customers departing from any domestic airport and arriving in Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles and Orlando. The airline plans to expand the service to more than 190 domestic airports in the coming months.

“United’s new baggage delivery service offers an alternative for travelers who prefer the convenience of having their checked bags delivered directly to their homes, offices or hotels,” said Tom O’Toole, United’s senior vice president of marketing and loyalty. “Our customers have told us this type of option adds value to their travel experience.”

Standard rates for bag delivery within a 40-mile radius are as follows:

1 bag $29.95
2 bags $39.95
3-8 bags $49.95

Delivery is available up to a 100-mile radius for an additional charge that varies by distance. Delivery pricing is in addition to any standard checked-bag charges that might otherwise apply.

Customers can order the service directly from BagsVIP online, or by calling 1-877-847-0045.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,557 flights a day to 378 airports on six continents from the airline’s hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. United is upgrading its cabins with more flat-bed seats in first and business class and more extra-legroom economy-class seating than any other airline in North America. United now has 180 airplanes featuring DIRECTV®, offering customers more live television access than any other airline in the world. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft and has orders for more than 270 new aircraft deliveries through 2022. In 2012, United was the first North American airline to take delivery of new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. United was rated the world’s most admired airline on FORTUNE magazine’s 2012 airline-industry list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Readers of Global Traveler magazine have voted United’s MileagePlus program the best frequent flyer program for eight consecutive years. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 193 countries via 27 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com or follow United on Twitter and Facebook. The common stock of United’s parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

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January 14, 2013 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.

Filed Under: Commercial Aviation  Press Release  United Airlines
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UAV Education and Training Essential for Their Growth

One of the things I love most about aviation is that we have not even come close to reaching the ceiling of what we can do.  What is very interesting about aviation just over 100 years after man achieved powered flight is that we are now removing the man from the cockpit.  While we will not likely remove the pilot completely from the cockpit in my lifetime, it is fascinating to see the developments in unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs.

One of the most important aspects of any developing industry is the education and training available to help the industry grow.  Like much of the rest of the aviation industry, much of the training for UAVs comes from the military, and filters to other organizations, to include the civilian sector.  Now the civilian sector is developing its own education and training, to include college degrees.

The newly formed Middle Georgia State College is developing a UAV certification program that they hope will set the stage for the college being selected as one of six UAV commercial use test sites in the US.  The college has already received two certificates of authorization to fly and test their own UAVs, and expects to receive three more this year.

The local newspaper in middle Georgia, The Telegraph, wrote an interesting article about the many uses of UAV technology that the school has already experimented with.  Many people are aware of the military, police, and border security use of UAVs, but they have also proven to be valuable assets in the agricultural industry.  They can be used to make crop dusting more efficient and effective through analyzing the crops and only applying pesticides where they are needed.

This is just one more example of the many applications of aviation that were likely never considered by the Wright Brothers over 100 years ago.  While there will continue to be opposition from pilots who don’t want to leave the cockpit, UAVs will clearly play a vital role in the future of aviation as the training and education continues to improve.

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January 3, 2013 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.

Filed Under: Aviation  Aviation Education/Training  Aviation Technology  Commercial Aviation  RPA/UAV
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Inaugural AAAE Airport Diversity Summit ‘Pathway to Prosperity’ Coming To Little Rock

Alexandria, Va. –  Creating and enhancing diversity in airports and their communities will be the focus of the inaugural Pathway to Prosperity Summit, November 14-16, 2012, in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The summit, hosted by Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, will bring together airport and community leaders along with executives from minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs). Airports that receive federal funding are required to participate in the Department of Transportation’s DBE program. The program is a key driver in both airport and local economic development plans, giving opportunities to businesses that, because of their size or status, may not otherwise be able to participate in airport projects.

“A successful airport must serve the entire community including all the diverse members of the business community,” said Ron Mathieu, C.M., executive director of Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport. “The goal of this summit is to educate airports on how to run a robust DBE program as well as identify the right opportunities for qualified businesses to engage in the program.”

The event will commence with a Wednesday night welcome reception at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum and continue with one and a half days of panels and educational sessions led by industry experts and thought leaders. The summit will take place at the Double Tree by Hilton Little Rock Hotel.

For more information on the summit, visit the official event website at http://ow.ly/dRLlx or contact AAAE Director, Training & Business Development Starla Bryant, CCA, at (703) 824-0500, Ext. 173 or starla.bryant@aaae.org.

ABOUT AAAE

Founded in 1928, AAAE (www.aaae.org) is the world’s largest professional organization representing the men and women who work at public-use commercial and general aviation airports. AAAE’s 5,000-plus members represent some 850 airports and hundreds of companies and organizations that support the airport industry. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., AAAE serves its membership through results-oriented representation in Washington, D.C., and delivers a wide range of industry services and professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and a highly respected accreditation program.

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October 8, 2012 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.

Filed Under: Airports  Aviation  Aviation Conferences  Commercial Aviation  Press Release
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American Airlines to Use Tablets to Help Flight Attendants Improve the Customer Experience

In the never-ending battle of airlines trying to do more to improve the customer experience, American Airlines is now planning to give their flight attendants tablets.  Personally, I am not sure what benefit this actually provides.  They talk about providing real-time flight data, but that already exists in numerous formats.

The only way I see this as being truly innovative is if they were to allow customers to input information of how their flight could be more pleasant, but I see two majors flaws with that idea.  One, passengers would have to actually fill out the information. Two, American would actually have to act on what the customer wants, and I just don’t see them changing their services without charging the customer even more, which comes back to problem number one.

It is great that American is trying to use technology to improve their offering, and over time we may very well see developments that prove that this was a great, innovative idea, but for now I feel like this is just one way for American to try and make people feel like their is an improvement without any real change.

Below you can find American’s video describing the new service.

American Airlines plans to offer more personalized service with a first of its kind Inflight tablet program with Samsung Galaxy Notes for all flight attendants. Designed to provide insight into customer preferences and real-time flight data, the devices will give flight attendants more access to information — all from the palm of their hands. For more information, visit aa.com.

 

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September 24, 2012 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.

Filed Under: American Airlines  Aviation  Aviation Technology  Commercial Aviation
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American Airlines Offers a Look at Airline Operations

As a kid I always loved going to the airport and just watching things happen.  Loading bags, fueling the plane, passengers boarding; it really didn’t matter, I just loved watching all of it.  In reality, nothing has really changed, I still love everything about aviation.  The difference is that now I actually understand a lot more about what is going on.

Most people aren’t as in love with aviation as I am, and that is fine, but there is still something to be said for understanding how some of the different aspects of an airline work.  Apparently American Airlines feels the same way as they are rolling out a series of videos through their twitter feed (@AmericanAir).

The videos are designed to answer questions about some of the basic aspects of how an airline functions like how deicing works(see video below), where bags go after you check them, and what happens during weather delays.  They seem to be interested in answering actual customer questions as they ask for feedback with all of the videos, as well as regularly on the Twitter feed itself.

I think this is a great concept, and I genuinely hope they keep doing it.  If people actually understand how it all works, they will handle it better when not everything goes as expected.  Not that this will fix all of their problems, but by creating informed customers they are simply adding one more level to the customer experience, and that is always a good thing.

 

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July 22, 2012 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.

Filed Under: American Airlines  Aviation  Commercial Aviation
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Alaska Airlines Letting Passengers Tag Their Own Bags; Processing Passengers 30% Faster

For anyone that has been late for a flight and needed to check a bag, they know how painful it can be to stand in line while someone in front of you takes fifteen minutes to check their bag.  I have always found it interesting that I can stand in line and watch ten people take a good 5-10 minutes each, yet I walk up and am out of there in under a minute.  Whether you are late or not, it is painful how long some people take.

Alaska Airlines is now making that process simpler by allowing passengers to tag their own bags.  Much the way that we have been printing our own boarding passes for years, they will now let you tag your bags and hand them to the TSA agent.  Apparently, in many other countries they will let you do the whole thing unsupervised, but naturally TSA wants to maintain their job security, so they have to watch you.

This was one of those things that made me go “duh” when I read about it, because it just seemed to be such on obvious way to save time in the whole process.  According to an interview Jeff Butler of Alaska Airlines did with The Cranky Flier, it has actually shaved 30% off the time it takes passengers to be processed, which is a significant enough that Alaska is working to make this a reality at all of the airports they serve.

Unfortunately, TSA is once again trying to make it as difficult as possible.  The above mentioned article goes into more detail about the whole process Alaska went through to get permission, and it is pretty ridiculous if you ask me.  Not only did they have to prove the safety of their program, they must reapply for permission to implement it every time they want to roll it out somewhere new.

Time is quickly becoming one of the biggest assets in aviation.  People want, and in some cases need, to be able to flow through an airport as quickly as possible from the time they pull up, until they drive away after arrival.  That is why we see all of these new programs to get you through security faster, and why airlines have invested so much money on kiosks that allow you to print your own boarding pass.

A 30% reduction in processing time is a big enough benefit that every airline will likely look at this option, if they aren’t already.  Maybe that is the push that TSA needs to streamline the process and make it easier for airlines to use this new concept.

I remember as a kid being able to walk into the airport, get through security, and be at the gate in fifteen minutes or so, but now I have to plan to be at the airport at least an hour early if I don’t want to miss my flight, and I live in a relatively small city.  Speeding up the whole process would be a benefit to everyone involved, and hopefully TSA will not be the speed bump that prevents everyone from taking advantage of it.

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July 17, 2012 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.

Filed Under: Airports  Aviation  Aviation Regulation  Aviation Security  Commercial Aviation
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Airport Operations Is a Lot More Than Just Getting People On and Off Planes

In order to fulfill my insatiable desire to learn more about aviation I read numerous blogs, articles, and press releases everyday.  You can find a list of some of my favorites on the right side of this page.  If you have any other recommendations I would be happy to add them to my list.

One of my favorite reads is The Airline Reporter.  David Parker Brown is the author and he provides a nice diverse offering of articles, pictures, videos, and interviews.  He recently did an interview with Brandi Bell, an Airport Superintendent of Operations at LAX.

The article provides a really great look at airport operations, and their complex nature.  It is one of those things that gets completely overlooked by most people.  We all see TSA, and the gate attendants, flight attendants, and pilots for the airlines, but that barely scratched the surface of the people involved in keeping air travel safe, effective and efficient.

I took a personal interest in the story because Brandi is doing exactly what I want to do someday.  She started out in the Air Force and has made the transition to civilian airport operations.  For those of you that may not realize how much airport operations entail I would definitely take a look at the interview.

Reading this interview also got me thinking about the future of aviation in the sense of the people who will be running it in the future.  I know a handful of very bright, young people in aviation and I couldn’t help but wonder what their thoughts are on the current state, and future, of aviation.

In the coming weeks I will be posting interviews that I conduct with them.  I would love to get your feedback on what they have to say.  Also, if you are another one of those bright, young people in aviation that will be leading us into the future please leave a comment, or send me an email and I will add your thoughts to those that I have already collected.

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April 2, 2012 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.

Filed Under: Aviation  Aviation Executives  Commercial Aviation
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With the Choice of Dropping TSA will Airports Make the Switch?

I hate TSA.

I know that I am not alone in that sentiment.  I think it is one of the biggest wastes of money in the federal government.  The quality of the product borders on ridiculous.  There are the well documented cases of not being allowed to take a cupcake through because it has too much “gel” in the form of frosting, and the obvious removal of shoes, jackets, and who knows what else in the future.  Of course there is also all of the uproar over full body scanners that can easily be seen as an invasion of privacy.

Beyond the well documented accounts, we all have experiences of forgetting a knife or some other weapon in our bag that gets completely missed.  I even had one friend who had forgotten two knives, but only one was found by the screeners.

An article in the New York Times made me aware of something that many people may not realize: since TSA was created in 2001 airports have been allowed to request permission to replace federal screeners.  To this point only 16 airports have been given permission to make the switch, but others are beginning to consider the option despite TSA saying they will no longer accept applications last year.

In response to that decision by TSA, Representative John L. Mica, Republican of Florida, included a provision in aviation legislation that strengthens the ability of airports to switch to private screeners which passed in February.  Mica represents the district that includes the Orlando Sanford Airport that is anxiously trying to switch to private screeners.

According to the above mentioned article, the committee that supported the provision estimated that  if the 35 biggest airports in the country switched to private screeners, the government would save $1 billion over five years.  I wouldn’t be surprised if those numbers were inflated to prove their point, but everyone agrees that private screeners are cheaper than TSA.

In an economy, and aviation industry, where every dollar counts, how can this not become a more viable option for the nation’s airports?  The answer is TSA being unwilling to give up their monopoly.  If they are forced to compete against private companies that have to operate efficiently, they will have to change the way they operate.  They will no longer be able to waste millions of dollars on useless purchases like changing the color of shirt their employees wear, and that is awesome.

If this provision does nothing more than force TSA to operate more efficiently and effectively, then it is one of the best bills I have heard about in recent memory.  Here’s hoping that airports are actually able to have the screeners they want to have without any unnecessary hoops to jump through from the government, but what are the odds of that happening?

What is your take on the value of TSA over private screeners?

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March 26, 2012 I Written By

I'm Dave and I am a proud Avgeek. It goes way beyond liking airplanes. It is a passion that cannot be subdued.

Filed Under: Aviation  Aviation Funding  Aviation Regulation  Aviation Security  Commercial Aviation
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