Delta Flight Attendants Will Use Windows Phone Handheld Devices

As of late, Delta Air Lines has been investing in technology for both its customers and employees. It already has the Fly Delta app for iPhone, Windows Phone, Android and BlackBerry smartphones and last year it launched the Fly Delta app for iPad. In December 2012, it also launched a new and updated delta.com in addition to revamping its self-service kiosks.

Today, Delta announced that its flight attendants would start using new Windows Phone 8 handheld devices. This is an effort to continue Delta’s investment in technology and improve the customer experience. The devices will be used to streamline on-board purchasing.

Joanne Smith, Delta’s senior vice president of in-flight service, said, “Delta’s 19,000 in-flight professionals are there for the safety and comfort of our customers and equipping them with innovative solutions means they can better meet our customers’ needs on board every flight. This is yet another way we’re investing in technology to improve the customer experience.”

Which device did Delta decide to go with? The Windows Phone 8 smartphone of choice was the Nokia Lumia 810. The smartphone will allow flight attendants to offer the following:

• Near real-time credit card processing for on-board purchases, including upgrades to Delta's popular Economy Comfort seating
• On-board Economy Comfort upgrades will begin on transcontinental and international flights before being offered on flights across Delta's system
• Convenient e-Receipts that can be emailed to customers
• Customers' use of pre-paid credit cards for on-board purchases
• Quicker transaction processing times
• In the near future, the ability to read coupons displayed on a customer's mobile device
• More efficient service recovery

Next week, flight attendants on Delta Connection flights will also begin to use the Nokia Lumia 810. To personalize the customer experience even more, Delta expects to provide its flight attendants with certain customer specific information.

This solution was developed by Microsoft, Avanade and AT&T with the help of feedback from flight attendants. The Windows Phone 8 devices will include a Delta-specific customer experience developed by Avanade on the Microsoft Dynamics for Retail mobile point-of sale platform and will operate over Wi-Fi and AT&T's 4G LTE Network. The agreement includes plans to expand the solution over the next three years to the newest Nokia devices.