This article on ZDNet indicates that Panasonic and the networks are looking to NFC enable in flight entertainment systems. Having just flown I can state that his is a terrible idea. The problems Panasonic wants to fix are real:
“Scrabbling for change or reaching over with a credit card to pay for services while you’re in the sky can slow down attendants and annoy your in-flight neighbours, but if Panasonic has its way, near field communications (NFC) technology will be embedded within entertainment devices used on flights to streamline this process and potentially provide airlines with fresh revenue.”
But adding NFC to the entertainment system has minimal efficacy and maximum implementation cost. American Airlines had no entertainment in any of the four flights I took in two days. Linking the entertainment device at my seat to the Scotch I just requested would be a nightmare for the stewardess.
Instead airlines should read our new report “From Card-on-File To On-Demand Payments: What They Are And Why They Matter.” Implementing a mobile app that links to the on-board WiFi and enables on demand payments would cost much less to implement, leverage the WiFi network on board, and enable payments for entertainment systems when they exist on board, enable Bring Your Own Device entertainment, support purchases from the stewardesses, and provide a wealth of new user information which could improve marketing efforts.
Overview by Tim Sloane, VP, Payments Innovation at Mercator Advisory Group
Read the full story here
