Cutline Speaks

Traveling in the 21st Century

posted by Lauren on May 8, 2008

On a recent trip across the pond, I was reminded just how far technology has come in enhancing the air travel experience. I booked my ticket online, used Google SMS to check the status of my flight before leaving the house, and checked in at the airport using the self-service kiosk.

During all of this I was listening to music and playing games on my new iPod. It certainly makes a difference in the size of your carry-on luggage when you don't have to tote around a book of CDs or (gasp!) an entire extra bag for your cassette tapes. Oh the time when my vacation music selection was limited to the number of plastic cassette boxes I could fit in my backpack…

Once on the plane and off the ground, I perused the variety of options available in my personal seat-back entertainment system. Gone are the days of the single movie shown on a tiny screen five rows in front of you. Now we have a wide selection of movies, TV programs and games to choose from, including real time trivia with other passengers. (I personally love the pause option that allows you to move about the plane without missing part of the movie.) You can also track the flight pattern, current weather and wind connections, and time and distance to your location. I think this is a great feature, though not sure its the best idea for nervous fliers who check the arrival time every five minutes and assume we're going to crash whenever the little plane icon is over the ocean.

All of these technological advancements work together to make traveling to your destination that much more enjoyable. Now if we could just find a way to streamline the security process – has anyone discovered a graceful way to take off their coat and shoes while simultaneously wheeling a carry-on bag and putting their laptop into a plastic bin? That would be a true technological miracle!

Tags for this post: gadgets