i say it here, it happens there

From this very blog, just one week ago:

I wish this plane had a screen in the seatback in front of me showing one of those neat real time maps.  But instead of showing progress at the state or nation-state level, it would show progress at street or near-street level, so that instead of having that "Wow, this flight is taking forever" feeling, you could have that "Holy shit we're going incredibly fast" feeling.  It almost goes without saying that this Holy Shit Map(tm) should be toggle-able between map, satellite and hybrid modes.

From investor.jetblue.com, JetBlue Airways Announces Partnership With Google Maps to Provide Real-Time Flight Tracking Feature:

JetBlue Airways Corporation (Nasdaq:JBLU) today announces a partnership with Google Maps to provide customers with a real-time flight tracking channel on its signature seatback televisions to map the aircraft's route.

Maybe I should blog more often.

Comments

[Harold]

I don't think you're going to get 600 mph street views. It just means that you won't have to stare at the ungodly horror that is the Mapquest logo anymore.

[diane]

When I read your post, I thought the real-time maps thing was the most likely since the technology is so widespread and common these days, though personally most of your list was stuff I'd like to see, too.

There was a segment recently on CBS Sunday Morning about an airline that offered a "suite" where the paying passenger was sectioned off from the rest of the travelers and had lots of amenities not offered to regular passengers. The amenities were cool, but the scenario reminds me of the era when there were limos with a phone (amazing!) in them and boy was that cool because the regular Joes and Janes didn't have access to that sort of thing while driving. I anxiously await the day when upgraded technology is commonplace on an airplane.. and when that guy next to you would move his arm already.

[Michael Sippey]

@harold WHAT? Are you serious? No 600mph street views? That's it, I'm not flying JetBlue.

@diane That's a really good point. Of course airlines will continue to use pampering as a high end differentiator. But I think if they try to use technology as a way to differentiate, they'll fall flat. Their best customers (business travelers) won't always get the upgrades to business or first, and they're gonna be the ones demanding that power outlets and wifi make it back behind the curtain into coach.