Emirates is currently testing a new mobile-phone based meal-ordering service, which they intend to use to ensure a quick and accurate service to the 76 odd customers who are seated in business class on their planes.
The mobile phones have essentially been converted into meal-ordering devices, and are Samsung A7 smartphones, which can’t do anything else but connect to a wifi network on the plane and relay orders to the Galley, where they are received on a tablet. There are no SIM Cards involved, and the wifi network mentioned is a separate one from the public wifi network available on the plane.
The devices are not being placed in every seat, but are going to be available to the crew who can punch in your request on their MOD, and the meals/drinks can then be prepared and brought in from the galley. Not just that, because phones are involved, the crew will be able to retrieve the information about a passenger, such as names and seat assignments, status on the airline and any other notes.
The service is currently being trialed on Dubai – Paris, Dubai Mauritius and Dubai – Melbourne – Auckland routes, and the airline intends to roll it out on all the A380 aircraft by April 2017, followed by the Boeing 777 aircraft by the end of May.
Essential to note that this is only being implemented in Business Class, and won’t be done for First Class where personal service is still key, and Economy neither as well, where there are hardly any options for the travellers!
Bottomline
More and more technology is coming through into the hands of cabin crew, who have more information now on hand to be able to customize the passenger experience even better. This is one of the easiest and smartest use of mobile phones in the air, and I’m just wondering what took so long for someone to think it up in the first place. Kudos to Emirates for making their crew’s life easier with this new device.
What do you think of the new service being introduced by Emirates?
(Pictures and H/T: Paddleyourownkanoo)
Just a note that even Economy on EK has more meal options that most airlines