There are many great reasons to travel and it has many benefits. Yet, the process of flying to your destination can entail a lot of hassles, particularly when you are traveling with kids or an elderly, or you or a family member has an infirmity.
So, advances in aviation technology are welcomed with such pleasure, knowing how it can spell a huge difference to air travel experience.
How the Aviation Industry is Shaping Your Air Travel Experience
With a booming industry, the airlines are now in a better position to finance their ambitious plans to provide their future passengers improved flying experience in 2016 and beyond. Some of the innovative trends are shared by Marisa Garcia of Skift in the post 10 Air Travel Advances That Will Make Flying Better in 2016.
- Launch of A350 Aircraft and 787-9 Dreamliners: These are “… new aircraft designs (that) are loaded with innovations and improvements which improve the passenger experience onboard. Airlines have also lavished a lot of love on their new toys introducing beautiful new interiors, and new in-flight entertainment technology.” Some of the new aircrafts boast of green features such as those with reduced CO2 footprint.
- Rise of Biometric Kiosks and Passport Apps at Airports: These allow the use of automation and the integration of self-help processes to ensure easier check-in, transfer and boarding. These are believed to be the future of travel; they are a advances that are highly appreciated.
- Improved Onboard Wi-Fi and Streaming Entertainment: Getting high-speed Wi-Fi is something that is fast coming in most airlines. It is bringing in entertainment and work easier and faster several thousands of feet up in the skies with satellites and upgraded global in-flight Wi-Fi coverage.
- Apple Watch and Apps: The digital gadgets and mobile travel are here to stay, but travel technologies are expected to take impressive leaps beyond 2015. While Apple Watch has made notable contributions for air travel, more can be expected in the coming years.
- Bag Tracking Technology: One such improvement is the efficient baggage tracking technology through automation. It is an ingenious effort initiated by the International Air Transport Association (Resolution 753).
The other advances and initiatives that deigned to improve air travel are the following:
- The Rise of Premium Economy: This approach is providing a more upgraded and luxurious economy through some perks – extra legroom, more comfortable seats, etc. – to more affluent business and leisure travellers.
- Expansion of CBP Pre-Clearance Program: This effort provides easier clearance and shortens time spent with the Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
- Beacons and Internet of Things: This generation’s dependence on the Internet means that being out of touch with the rest of the world while up in the sky can be a scary experience. This why the aviation industry is boldly ensuring that digital technology will be firmed up to ensure the “connection” is not cut during air travel.
- Mobile and Personalization: “Ambitious programs were launched which will make tomorrow’s air travel a much more personalized experience. Being treated by our airlines and airports like a person, instead of just another anonymous flyer among thousands in a crowd, is a welcome progress.”
- Even Better In-flight Entertainment: If you find sleeping or sitting down/reading during the long hours of air travel too boring, you can now look forward to better entertainment while up in the skies. Airlines are eagerly drawing up plans to make flying a pleasurable experience for travelers like you.
Extra Ways to Enjoy Travel
On your end, you can make for a more enjoyable travel when you try and maximize it. Anna Mazurek shares some tips from her meaningful and productive travels in her post Five Ways to Maximize Travel in 2016 for Afar:
- Maximize weekends: See as much as you can by planning short or overnight trips when you are studying or working abroad.
- Travel lighter: Pack your bags several days before you leave and then remove items as your departure date draws closer. Traveling light will give you an easier time checking in your bags and claiming them later. Learn some packing tips, so you’ll have enough of what you’ll need.
- Workout: If you are living on a suitcase, travel can make you miss out on health or physical activities. There are a number of fun ways to exercise while on travel – biking or going on foot around the chosen destination.
- Take longer trips: “Flights are usually the most expensive part of travel, so it’s cheaper to travel for longer periods of time than to take multiple trips.” Find the time. For instance, the gap time after graduation or between jobs.
- Collect more miles: Mazurek recounts how she was able to wrap up a 7-month trip in Central and South America and how she flew 15 times using miles from on 11 and spending only on four of them.
A wonderful travel experience is something that every passenger is hoping to get. Air travel can be a hassle, but efforts are underway to improve it. You can also make your travel more pleasant when you personally exert effort to make it such.
As they draw-up plans, we can only hope they’ve listened to what passengers think of the future of air travel.
