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Engadget Podcast: Why is air travel falling apart?
The IT Crowd was right! You really should try turning everything off and on again to make it work. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss how the FAA did just that to fix its NOTAM system, which alerts pilots of potential hazards.
This livestream of planes landing in a storm has derailed our day
Landing in a strong crosswind is no joke, as any pilot (or passenger) can attest.
The COVID-19 shutdown is making weather prediction more difficult
The COVID-19 quarantine is grounding airlines around the world and that's hindering our ability to predict the weather.
Google makes it easier to find COVID-19 travel advisories
As the coronavirus continues to spread and countries introduce various travel restrictions, Google has seen an uptick in searches for travel advisories and cancellation policies. In response, it's making some changes to help users find that information even faster.
Gogo will offer 5G in-flight internet in 2021
Gogo plans to launch in-flight 5G on business and commercial flights in 2021. According to an announcement made today, the 5G will be available in the contiguous US and Canada. "We expect to launch Gogo 5G at the same time as the terrestrial telecommunications companies are deploying the same generation of technology on the ground," said CEO Oakleigh Thorne.
E-ticketing flaw could allow hackers to print boarding passes
E-ticketing systems used by eight major airlines, including Southwest, suffer from a lax security that could expose personal information and result in tampering with seats and boarding passes. Researchers at mobile security firm Wandera published a report highlighting vulnerability found in check-in emails delivered to passengers. While there is no evidence of any significant breach, the vulnerability may still give travelers pause.
Bluesmart shuts down following smart luggage battery ban
Smart luggage maker Bluesmart is shutting down after concerns over batteries in checked luggage kept travelers from using its bags as intended. The company has sold its intellectual property and is ending refunds, sales and warranty support.
US airlines plan to enforce new rules on smart bags
Travelers looking to use their fancy new smart luggage may soon face a hard time getting the bags on a plane due to safety concerns about their batteries. According to CNN, American, Delta and Alaska Airlines have all announced that starting January 15th, passengers checking smart luggage will have to remove the lithium-ion batteries (or keep them powered down if traveling in the cabin). The site also says that United Continental and Southwest Airlines both plan to announce similar policies soon. That's 80 percent of the US air traffic, according to CNN.
FAA proposes ban on large electronics in checked baggage
While most of us probably keep our laptops and other large electronics in our carry-on bags, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) still wants to avoid the risk associated with exploding lithium-ion batteries in the cargo hold of passenger aircraft. According to an official FAA document uploaded by PetaPixel's Michael Zhang, the agency is proposing a ban on large personal electronics (anything bigger than a cell phone) in checked baggage.
Worldwide flight delays caused by glitchy check-in system
Passengers around the world have been enduring long delays thanks to a glitchy passenger reservation system, passengers, airlines and airports are reporting. Airports as far flung as London's Gatwick, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Melbourne and Baltimore Washington have all reported issues. According to Gatwick, it was caused by a problem with Amadeus Altea, a passenger management system used by 125 airlines. That company confirmed that it's having a "network issue," according to the BBC, but has started restoring services.
British Airways pushes planes with remote-controlled vehicles
From renewable fuels to eco-friendly airplane tugs -- British Airways is interested in decreasing its ecological footprint. The airline has just announced the roll out of five new Molotok remote-controlled electric vehicles that can push back aircraft from the gate. These eco-friendly vehicles replace the standard diesel tugs that you typically see at airports so that a single ramp agent can push an aircraft out with a little control device worn on their belt. British Airways claims that it is the "first airline worldwide" to implement these tugs.
In-flight Netflix will be available on more airlines in 2018
Netflix's in-flight streaming is available through a few carriers around the world, but it's far from a staple of air travel. More often than not, technological limitations will force you to download that new show before you leave home. It could be far more common going forward, though. Netflix is launching an initiative that will use its mobile device encoding technology to make Netflix accessible on aircraft that either have many passengers or don't always have the luxury of fast satellite internet access.
TSA may ask you to unpack tablets and cluttered carry-on bags
While it looks like the airline industry has successfully held off the US Department of Homeland Security's proposed laptop ban for now, the government will soon be giving carry-on bags an extra thorough inspection at airports around the country anyway. Starting after this summer's travel rush, the TSA is expected to implement a range of new policies that will likely lead to a lot more unpacking and re-packing at airport security checkpoints. Suddenly those automatic security screenings can't come soon enough.
US may not ban laptops on European flights after all
European and American officials met over a laptop ban proposed by the Trump administration, and sources have told the Associate Press that it's "off the table" for now. While the ban has been voted down for now, officials are reportedly considering other measures, including wide intelligence sharing, and plan to meet again next week.
Recommended Reading: Technology hasn't improved the airline experience
How Technology Has Failed to Improve Your Airline Experience Farhad Manjoo, The New York Times It hasn't been a great week for United, but that massive incident served as a harsh reminder that the airline industry has a long list of customer service issues. The New York Times' Farhad Manjoo details how technology has improved ride sharing, vacation rentals and more while the process of booking a flight and air travel still leaves a lot to be desired.
Boom's supersonic jets will pick up where the Concorde left off
Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl wants passengers to break the sound barrier. Since the demise of the supersonic Concorde passenger jet, commercial airlines haven't offered a quicker alternative to fly from point A to point B.
Delta's RFID luggage tracking system now includes a map view
Delta's new RFID luggage tags rolled out earlier this year, making it harder for at least one airline to lose your bags. Now, just in time for the holiday travel rush, Delta has already upgraded their baggage tracking system to include a up-to-the-minute map view of a bag's journey.
Google Flights adds price-tracking notifications
Booking the cheapest flight can be daunting. Should you book from an airline's site or go with something like Expedia? Plus, there's the trick of using Chrome in Incognito Mode can usually save you a few bucks. Of course none of those tell you when is the best time to buy tickets. That's what Google Flights is hoping to do.
Satellite tracking for airliners may help prevent disappearances
The fact that a passenger airliner can disappear without a trace is still pretty difficult to comprehend. Two companies are looking to bring a new satellite tracking solution to market that they say will prevent mysterious disappearances like that of Malaysia Airlines MH370 in 2014. Rather than beaming location info to stations on the ground, those details are sent to satellites with the Aireon GlobalBeacon system. The technology is being developed alongside flight tracking service FlightAware and the duo is targeting 2018 for the system to be operational.
Australian airlines ban use of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7
Australian airlines Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia have told passengers not to power up or charge their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones on its planes. "We are requesting that passengers who own them do not switch on or charge them in flight," Qantas told Reuters in a statement. The companies weren't ordered to do so by aviation authorities in the nation, but did so on their own accord in light of Samsung Australia's recall.
