ipads replacing whiteboards at airports
 

noticed at both T5 and ABZ, the old fashioned name on a whiteboard replaced with flight detail on an ipad like "BA 97 Miami" :D

notice they were chained and padlocked as well, must be worried they go walkies :eek:^

Where have they been using whiteboards at T5? Never seen that in action.

used to be once you got past security and at flight connections.

Also saw taxi drivers using this in ABZ as well this week :eek:

I think our esteemed Dr Spear meant that they used to have someone holding a clipboard with a pre-printed white sheet of paper saying "BA97 Toronto". Now it's, well, it's quite small really, maybe a Kindle Fire size device.

The more amusing one is when they have a lot of Iberia irrrops someone stands outside Flounge with a Spanish language device to persuade non Emeralds that they have another floor to climb.....

iPad minis at T5B recently being used by the ground staff to show flight numbrs for tight connecting passengers

All customer service facing staff at LHR have been given iPad Minis to 'enhance' customer service. Apps can retrieve bookings, inform about delays, etc. Next year once DCS is retired agents will be able to check passengers in and rebook in times of disruption. Great investment!

Is this a joke? :(

It would be really nice if pax could rebook themselves during disruption.

You know, like LH has been offering for, well, years.

I recently saw private cab drivers holding up names on a iPad at T5 rather than on a piece of paper. One even construction a chain so he could rest his arms and wear his iPad like large necklace.

Dont forget that Heathrow T5 is all about spending on technology that delivers minimal benefit to the passenger; e.g. those security machines and the inefficient trains. Supposedly for environemental purposes by saving paper.

I hope he has a large gold medallion as his screensaver :-)

Perhaps shorthauldad is not aware of Manage My Booking at ba.com?

Thankfully most customers are impressed with iPads!

<giggles uncontrollably>

During (mass) disruption all BA pax will be able to rebook themselves, will they? No need to phone BA? No need to queue at T5? Excellent.

Don't mean to seem cynical or ungrateful, but please can we have that in writing? In blood, if you don't mind... ;)

Yes, quite.

You must be a very miserable person based on your posts.

There is a new IT tool now in operation in case of cancellation or mass disruption which rebooks passengers automatically. A new permanent Disruption Team Manager has been set up for winter to deal with any potential cancellations and coordinate disruption handling. More winter deicing machines have been bought. Every department within British Airways has been trained or will be trained over coming weeks to handle new procedures set up in times of disruption. Staff at LHR equipped now with iPad Minis can retrieve booking and advise passengers where to go get a hotel, get rebooked, etc. IT system has been updated to send passengers email and text the moment flight is cancelled, it has not been the case in the past or was inconsistent.

Few days ago LHR suffered from heavy fog resulting in 30 cancellations and thousands of MICs. System worked brilliantly.

Hurrah! That's all been a long time in coming. Of course we'll see what happens when the snow starts to hit the ground but things like the Disruption Team Manager seem like a big improvement. The big problem during previous mass disruption seemed to be that no bit of BA had a clue what any other bit was doing.

This sounds like a huge improvement. Fingers crossed .....

Yes, now the they'll have someone to fire when there is the usual chaos!

On the subject of the iPads, what would really help would be if the people holding them had the wherewithal to get you to your connecting flight quickly. I've had them meet me several times recently with the iPad display toggling between the flight # and destination and my name, but they ask if you know where your gate is and sometimes walk with you as far as the lift to the B/C shuttle.

At least if they walked as far as the aircraft door with you, they could apply the whip if you started to slow down in the last couple of furlongs! :D:D