Airlines seem intent on creating the illusion that you're not actually flying high through the stratosphere at a ridiculous speed.  They ask you to lower the window shade and just pretend that you've somehow stumbled into the world's most poorly designed movie theatre.  This at a time when some people are willing to shell out over $200K to experience "space flight", just a few kilometers above the realm of the cigar tube cineplex.

When did the airlines decide it was a good idea to remove any hint of "flying" from air travel?  Cruise lines realised decades ago that their shipboard experience could represent much more to the traveler than simply a means to get from one island to the next.  Theme park visitors line up for hours to experience rides that pale in comparison to the miracle of actual flight.  And yet a flight on a multi-million-dollar jet has become less engaging than a trip around the block on your average city transit bus.

Why and what can be done about it?

Personally, one of my favorite onboard features is the real-time flight information that displays a map of your route,  key cities along the way, and your aircraft's position in the skies.  What's always frustrated me about this feature is that it doesn't provide enough detail.  I'm left to imagine for myself what's going on far beneath me and left with more questions than answers about the ground we're speeding across far overhead.

As someone who's spent more than a little time trying to find innovative ways to get tourism messages in front of travelers, this is a potential goldmine.  I know I could find lots of partners willing to kick in a few bucks to reach a captive, interested and qualified audience.

Take a look at google earth (turn on the feature that lets you see tags).  Now imagine being able to access this same functionality as you endure yet another cross-continent flight.  It beats the heck out of half-watching March of the Penguins for the fourth time.





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