Mobile Phone Apps Targeting at Delayed Flights

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　　With flight delays in China on the rise, more and more mobile phone applications specializing in-flight information updates are emerging.

 

　　CRI's Liu Min has more.

 

　　Travel and Flight applications give brand new frequent flyers special experiences compared with starring at the big screen in the airport to get information.

 

　　These apps can provide you with a map locating the flight and as well a prediction about whether your flight will be on time.

 

　　In addition, some applications have also become linked to social media. Flyers on the same flight can make comments and complain to each other about the delayed flight.

 

　　Some enable the travelers to choose their seat in advance. Digital boarding cards, hotel reservations, and luggage claim services have also been included on some flight related applications.

 

　　Xu Hongtao is a vice¹ president of Flight Manager Digital Company.

 

　　"For example, if your friend has arrived in Beijing, but you don't have time to pick him up, then you could use our app to send him some flowers to welcome him. Or you could book a taxi to pick him up through our service. We are trying to be innovative² to seek for potential growth in this area."

 

　　According to statistics, the total number of passengers taking civil flights in the year 2012 exceeded 320 million, and 40 to 50 million are frequent air travelers.

 

　　Bo Manhui, manager of umetrip.com, the first aviation travel service application in China, says the application has to be very strong in information collection and analysis to win over more users.

 

　　"We process more than 60 million pieces of data or information every day. And I believe the number will continue to climb as we improve the system."

 

　　China Merchants Bank promoted a special service, and it's called Pei Ni Deng in Chinese, meaning the bank will accompany you in waiting for delayed flights.

 

　　Zheng Hongfeng, CEO of veryzhun.com says the application produced by his company has helped users to get timely compensation in cooperation with China Merchants Bank.

 

　　"The bank used our database to help passengers get compensation on delayed flight occasions. In the past, passengers who bought this kind of flight delaying insurance needed to collect evidence by themselves before they could receive compensation, but now passengers can receive the money right away when the flight becomes delayed."

 

　　Currently, many applications are free. These digital companies have spent money on technology development, database maintenance, and labor³, but most haven't made a penny yet.

 

　　Since a wide variety of apps that make life on the go seem a little less chaotic⁴ already exist, many passengers say they'd rather see less delayed flights and make comments on these apps about their positive flight experiences instead.

 

　　For CRI, I'm Liu Min.

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