The internet is obviously one of the most ground-breaking entities of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. It has pervaded into all peoples’ lives; from the way we watch TV, communicate with one another, and just about every other aspect of civilization. One of the facets of society that the internet has greatly affected is air travel. They way we travel has drastically changed, and while some of that is because of heightened airport security, much of it is because of the influence of the web. There are numerous ways in which air travel has been altered because of the internet and understanding these reasons is essential to comprehending the big picture of air travel.
Booking Flights
One of the most prevalent and noticeable changes that the internet has brought about on air travel is the ability to book flights online. In the past, booking a flight (as well as hotels, rental cars, and other travel-related purchases such as airport parking services) had been a difficult and arduous task that required immense planning. Today, this is not the case. You can log on to a myriad of websites that are all designed to get you the best flight. On these numerous websites you have the ability to choose your starting location, your destinations, specific dates, times, what seat you will be in, and so many other factors. This has truly opened up the airline industry and has allowed for people to take advantage of the many offers around the web.
Simplifying and Securing Airports
Aside from creating the ability for passengers to book flights from the convenience of their computer or smartphone, the internet has also changed air travel for the better in simplifying and securing airports. Internet-based technologies are utilized in every major airport. These technologies are used in a multitude of ways. One of the more recent advances is mobile ticketing. This feature allows passengers to download their airline tickets to their smartphones where they can show it to TSA agents at the airports. QR code and scanning technologies are utilized in this process in order to make sure that the airport is simpler to use and runs more efficiently. Airports are secured thanks to internet technologies as well. Camera systems and anti-terrorism measures are almost all run through a web-based technological structure that has been set up in order to keep the airport safe and secure.
Final Thoughts
The internet is an incredible entity that has greatly affected all aspects of society. It aids in the daily lives of billions of people across the globe and is used in an innumerable amount of ways to better humanity. The way that the internet has altered air travel is truly amazing, as it has made the experience for passengers much better as well as advanced the technologies used in the industry. Booking flights and simplifying and securing airports are just a few of the ways in which the internet has changed air travel. As the future progresses, we can only imagine how the internet will change the air travel industry further.