Skip to main content

Gate announcements: Gone with the future

 

Technology and social change have caught up with yet another aspect of travel: the long string of announcements near the end of a flight, telling passengers what gate to rush to for their connecting flights.

Actually, they've been gone from United and Delta for quite a while, and last week American Airlines joined the trend, saying that  “it felt like that information wasn’t helping anyone anymore...For some customers, [they] felt like an interruption to the tail end of the flight...and we’re happy to stop interrupting them.”

The airline spokesman pointed out that most passengers are getting the information from apps or from the inflight-entertainment systems, and that those who don't still have access to the airport arrival boards and to company agents at the gate. He also pointed out that the app used by flight attendants enables them to know which passengers have tight connections and help them individually.

Still...to many of us, it's been a signal to start packing up and getting ready, and that yes, we are "there yet."

The best part of every trip is realizing that it has upset your expectations

Add Comment

Comments (0)

Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×