In today’s day and age,
smart phones have changed the way people live. They connect people to people
faster than ever before as well as putting companies and their products at each
user’s fingertips. There are apps for almost everything you can think of. These
apps include online banking, shopping, business, and travel. Smart phones have
connected the world in ways that many could not have imagined fifteen years
ago.
Smart
phones have allowed airlines to create a travel experience that is much easier
and convenient for its consumers. Almost all major air carriers allow their
customers to manage their travel plans through mobile applications. For
instance, Southwest airlines have the ability for their customer to handle
everything electronically without speaking to anyone until they are at the
check in gate. According to Southwest.com, a customer can “book, change or
cancel air reservations, book or cancel rental car reservations, check in for
your flight, mobile boarding pass, check flight status and set up text
notifications, add Early Bird Check-In to an existing reservation, enroll in
and access your Rapid Rewards account, view travel and weather alerts, access
helpful airport information, view & book the latest DING! deals (iOS app
only).”
According
to the New York Times, “eighty percent of all travelers use self-service
options when booking travel.” This allows for many positive outcomes for the
airline and the consumer. For the airline it saves money. They do not have to
hire as much personnel to do all of the jobs that the consumers are now doing
on their own. There is little to no need to have a large working staff booking
travel, or checking customers in. The airlines are able to take the saved money
and put it to other uses. For the customer, it saves time. In today’s world,
time can be everything. For business men or women on the go, they are able to
book a flight from any location in a matter of minutes. The person traveling
does not even need a computer to print out the boarding pass. Their smart phone
is the boarding pass, once again saving time and money.
With
all of the positive features mobile devices have given to the aviation
community, there are however negative drawbacks, and one in particular that
apps have definitely created. Like any other automated system, airline apps
have replaced the jobs that skilled professionals once held. With these
positions now being filled by the consumers themselves booking their own
travel, these professionals are no longer needed. In an already job challenged
age, apps have narrowed the job market even further.
Stellin, Susan. "Paper Is Out, Cellphones Are
In." The New York Times. The New York
Times, 18 Mar. 2008.
Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
"The Trouble with Using Your Phone to
Board." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 17
Sept. 2012. Web. 19
Nov. 2013.
Yu, Roger. "USA TODAY Today in the Sky."
Smartphones Have Changed the Way We Travel.
N.p., 10 Mar. 2010.
Web. 19 Nov. 2013.
I agree with you that technology has two side effects positive and negative. You brought a good point that no need for airline to hire someone for booking because the consumers are doing the job by themselves, so I believe that will reduce a lot of job opportunities , but will benefit the airline by saving money for not hiring anyone to do the job.
ReplyDeleteGood post! As much as reliance is going to shift to mobile devices in the coming years, I hope gate attendants don't become obsolete. When you have a question or your internet isn't connecting to the WiFi network, it is so nice and helpful to talk face to face with someone who works with the company. I'm afraid that mobile devices will replace a lot of professional jobs, like you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteWhile I'll agree, jobs may be lost due to the change in technology, I think there are going to be plenty of positions to fill those losses. This technology is infrastructure intensive and still requires a lot of human labor. With the amount of people who are seeking out technological positions in the US, I think this is probably for the best, booking agencies seem rather antiquated to me.
ReplyDeleteI am an individual that agrees with you about the job losses due to technology. It is a very uncertain feeling about what impact that technology will have on our job market. I believe we are seeing the beginning of it now and who knows when we will see the end result. We just need to keep moving forward and only look back to learn from the past.
ReplyDelete