United Airlines is introducing a new feature on its mobile app that allows passengers to request their preferred seat type, even if it is not available during booking.
Passengers can select preferences for window or aisle seats, as well as exit rows or bulkhead seats, with the new feature available up until 12 hours before the scheduled flight departure.
This complimentary service is offered to all customers except those traveling on Basic Economy tickets, and United Airlines is the first and only US airline to offer this feature.
The airline has also implemented the ‘WILMA’ boarding method called where customers are boarded in the order of window, middle, then aisle, aiming to increase time savings and higher Net Promoter Scores.
British Airways plans to introduce new real-time apps to better predict adverse weather, accessing data from The Weather Company to enhance decision-making for pilots and flight planning teams.
The Guidor app will provide comprehensive insights into weather conditions along flight paths for pilots, while the WSI Fusion app for the Integrated Operations Control will work in conjunction with Guidor to offer precise information on weather changes.
The new technology complements the airline’s recent introduction of an Electronic Aircraft Maintenance system, enabling immediate data transfer for quicker issue resolution through pre-ordering parts. BA’s COO highlighted the benefits of real-time data for operational decisions and collaboration between pilots and ground staff.
