Two of the biggest challenges for any air traveler are staying comfortable and keeping occupied, especially during lengthy flights. One airline has come up with a unique solution to this issue, going well beyond the usual in-flight entertainment fare of bad movies and inane magazines.
Jetstar, the low-cost offshoot of Australia-based Qantas Airlines, will next month begin offering Apple iPad tablet rentals to its passengers. The devices can be had for $10 Australian Dollar, which is about the same in U.S. currency, and will be available on all Airbus A320 flights to Australia and Asia.
The Jetstar iPads will be full of music, magazines, books and games, which should make being squeezed in a middle seat more tolerable. Jetstar rolled out the iPad rental concept on certain flights last year as part of a pilot program (pardon the pun), and the public's response was so favorable that the rentals will become a full-time thing.
"It's important that we can provide the latest in innovative technology to entertain our customers on board,'' said Jetstar CEO Bruce Buchanan. "Given the demand for the iPad so far, I anticipate it will have strong appeal amongst our customers.''
Jetstar's initial goal was to have the rental program up and running on a permanent basis for last year's holiday season, but contract negotiations and hashing out licensing agreements with Apple pushed the plans back. Jetstar Chief Information Officer Stephen Tame has said he expects the iPads to end traditional in-flight entertainment as we've known it.
No United States-based carriers are offering iPad rentals yet, but it's a safe bet that they'll be keeping an eye on how things are going with Jetstar's program, as will other airlines all over the world.
For air travelers, this is arguably the biggest development since Jet Blue introduced satellite television in its aircraft several years ago. Leaving his or her personal iPad at home, the passenger doesn't have to worry about it being lost, stolen or someone spilling a cup of juice on it.
Apparently, Jetstar passengers won't be on the hook if their device goes on the blink, though slamming it against the restroom door might not go over very well.
In air travel, the iPad isn't making its presence felt with just passengers. Alaska Airlines is allowing what it calls a "select group of pilots" to use the tablets in the cockpit, rather than laptops or paper maps and charts, which can weigh as much as 50 pounds.
A month ago, Executive Jet Management, a company that charters small private jets, was given clearance by the Federal Aviation Administration to use iPads on the runaway and in the air, the first firm to be allowed to do so.
The application for the iPads used by Executive Jet and Alaska Airlines is designed by Jeppesen, a subsidiary of Boeing. During the test phase, the iPads functioned at 51,000 feet and interference wasn't a problem.
"The pilots are absolutely in love with this device,'' said Jeppesen chief strategist of aviation Rick Ellerbock to the Seattle Times. "They are clamoring to get this.''
Jeff Buhl, Jeppesen product manager, told National Public Radio, "The speed and clarity and the ease of use of the applications that we've built really make a big difference for the pilot."
Buhl went on to say both pilots use iPads, so if one goes out, there's another one on hand as backup.
Southwest Airlines already uses iPads for its ground operations, and other airlines are expected to follow suit.
However, when it comes to doling out iPads to its passenger, Jetstar has already beaten everyone to the proverbial punch.
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