In preparation for my annual trip to Bermuda and its Film Festival I thought I’d go paperless with Air Canada’s new Mobile Check-in service. And predictably, instead of ending up with a 2D barcode I got the message seen in the screen grab above.
Just so I’m clear on this… I have a phone running the number one smartphone OS in the world, made by the world’s number one handset manufacturer, and yet it’s not recognized by Air Canada.
My bad, clearly…
Fast Track, my favourite travel show on BBC World, had a feature this past week about two companies, AeroMobile and OnAir, set to launch in-flight mobile phone services to European airlines sometime this year.
I myself can’t imagine a fate worse than having to endure some asshat in the seat beside me spending a 15-hour flight to Hong Kong yakking it up with someone on the other end of the line:
“They’re serving dinner… Should I get chicken or beef?”
“I’m looking out the window now — still only clouds…”
“They’re starting the movie… Have you seen Multiplicity?”
And so on.
I would, however, love to be able to surf the web, check my email, send and receive texts — you know, all those things you can do quietly and respect the environment and people around you?
Somewhat surprisingly, the FCC in the US and A continues to ban this idea, despite mounting evidence that there’s no danger to aircraft avionics. Could it be that the American government is using safety as an excuse to protect loudmouth passengers from themselves? And could it also be that Europeans, with their more advanced handsets, are therefore more advanced (i.e. more courteous) users?
I’d like to think so, but unfortunately I know from experience that it’s just not the case…
A quick hello from the Senator Lounge in Frankfurt Airport…
The last time I was here was in August of 2004 en route to Cape Town, South Africa. I’m once again grateful for the chance to wash away the remnants of my overnight flight from Toronto with a quick shower, and before I board my Egypt-bound flight I’m going to do a little price-checking in the Terminal — just for fun, of course…
Next stop, Cairo!
