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The next time you travel with American Airlines you may see some new gear on your flight attendants. Samsung has announced a partnership with the airline that will have them issuing Galaxy Note devices to all its flight attendants starting at the end of this year through mid-2013.
Flight attendants will use the devices to take beverage and meal orders, identify passengers without having to look at a paper manifest, easily look up terminal and gate information to assist flyers making a connection, and keep tabs on its “high-value” customers or special needs customers.
We’re not sure if customers will find that this adds tremendous value to their experience, but it doesn’t hurt to bring your business into the digital age and we’re sure this will at least result in a faster, more personalized flight experience. Read on for full press details.
AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANTS TO MAKE TRAVEL MORE PERSONALIZED WITH INNOVATIVE INFLIGHT TABLET PROGRAM
American’s Tablet Program Planned to be the First of its Kind for any Airline
FORT WORTH, Texas – A more personalized inflight experience will become a reality later this year as AmericanAirlines flight attendants begin using the sleek, new Samsung Galaxy Note® as part of American’s innovative tablet program designed to put invaluable customer data at their fingertips.
“This is a huge step towards a new, modern American Airlines, as our tablet program is the first of its kind in theairline industry, where our flight attendants will have the most up-to-date customer information in the palms of their hands, allowing them to better serve our customers from boarding to deplaning,” said Lauri Curtis, American’s Vice President – Flight Service. “By giving a device to all of our active flight attendants we are better enabling our people to deliver an exceptional customer experience.”
The new devices will be a strategic tool for flight attendants giving them greater access to more information about the customers onboard their flight. To better serve customers, American’s flight attendants can use the device to:
- · Access customer information such as name, seat number and loyalty program status in a seat map view and customer list view;
- · Record meal and beverage preferences for premium class customers;
- · Easily identify high-value customers seated in the premium cabins and in the main cabin, and customers requiring special assistance; and,
- · Provide customers with connecting gate, flight delays and weather information – pending FAA approval, all information will be automatically updated when Wi-Fi is available on the aircraft.
American intends to use the devices for transactions onboard the aircraft such as purchasing food inflight, pending FAA approval. The Samsung Galaxy Note is a SAFE™-designated device that offers a full portfolio of enterprise-ready features and capabilities. Additional functionality such as the addition of the flight attendant manual and more will continue to roll out over time. Adding the manual to the device will eventually eliminate the need for flight attendants to carry paper manuals – a more fuel efficient and environmentally-friendly approach.
American began piloting the program this spring. Beginning later this year through mid-2013, American will roll out the selected devices to all of its approximately 17,000 flight attendants. The Samsung Galaxy Note was chosen based on flight attendant feedback after months of testing different devices. Through testing, the Samsung Galaxy Note was ultimately selected because of its thin, portable design, easy to handle profile, SAFE security features, and 5.3-inch HD display that provide wide-screen readability and the functionality necessary to equip flight attendants with the ability to better know their customers and deliver the service they value.
“We’re pioneering important new technologies as part of our continued effort to build a new American and return to industry leadership,” said Maya Leibman, American’s Chief Information Officer. “As we continue to evolve into a more modern airline and explore ways to enhance the travel experience, we are giving our people the tools they need to offer our loyal customers ease of travel both in the air and on the ground.”
Furthering its efforts to advance airspace modernization, American Airlines announced earlier this month that it is expanding its Electronic Flight Bag program for pilots after becoming the first commercial carrier to receive FAA approval to use a tablet device in the cockpit during all phases of flight.
“From inflight entertainment to customer management, American Airlines is deploying cutting-edge technology to enhance the customer experience,” said Timothy Wagner, Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Sales for Samsung Mobile. “By pairing the power and performance of Samsung devices with the capabilities of their inflight teams,American is truly becoming the airline of the future – today.”
For more information on American’s innovative tablet program for flight attendants, please visit:http://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/
samsung-galaxy-note.jsp and www.youtube.com/americanairlines .
About American Airlines
American Airlines, American Eagle® and the AmericanConnection® carrier serve 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories with, on average, more than 3,500 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft.American’s award-winning website, AA.com®, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members and members-elect serve more than 900 destinations with more than 9,000 daily flights to 150 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and AmericanEagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. AMR Corporation common stock trades under the symbol “AAMRQ” on the OTCQB marketplace, operated by OTC Markets Group.
About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other telecommunications products throughout NorthAmerica. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 206,000 people in 197 offices across 72 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LED. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
Samsung, Galaxy, Note, SAFE and AMOLED are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks.
Yes, because that’s what will help American Airlines stop swirling around the bowl. /sarcasm
But to “experience” this you would have to fly American Airlines. I’d rather fly Southwest and sit between a 400lb sweaty mouth breather and a woman with a screaming infant than fly American Airlines.
Hey, it could be worse. It could be United! ;3
Will they be allowed to keep these after they’re laid off?
Flew AA for the first time this past weekend. Never will again in my life!
How can they pass up using HTC Flyer…yep I brought that device back
An airlines that everyone hates and no one wants to use. Sounds like perfect harmony for a Samsung tablet.
That sucks, bet they had no clue the Galaxy Note 2 was on its way before AA ordered all those first generation Notes.
I doubt they care.
I’ve ‘always’ had good experiences flying with United. American Airlines, pretty decent. US Airways? O to the HELL nO or something
Definitely not something they need. Can almost see it delaying the flight more because they don’t know how to work it. And I know this first hand seeing flights daily since I work for an airport.
will they too have to power down their electronic device while landing Hmmmmmm dont think so
I guess more airlines are going to adapt this idea as in Delta, and Northwest may end up using this technology. Also it’s not only airline industry, I’m a biotech student and I found out more and more labs are switching from the laboratory notebook to ipads/tablet computer (and smartphones) to replace notebook in order to enter data, and other scientific stuff. So I guess that’s going to save the tree from turning into paper for notebook.
Makes sense. Apple iPads are trusted to do the important work and be used by Pilots flying the airplane. Samsung products are only used to serve beverages.