The future of travel is here, and we’re leading the way
With the final print issue of Hemispheres magazine in seatbacks this month, we’re taking a moment to look back at our history, and also to look forward to new beginnings. When Hemispheres first appeared on United aircraft in 1992, so much of the travel experience was radically different: Flights were booked or changed over the phone or at the ticket counter, boarding passes were printed on paper, and inflight entertainment was often limited to the book you brought along. Over the last few years, though, we’ve been at the forefront of optimizing every step of your journey with innovative technology, while also building foundations for continued safe and sustainable flight for everyone. Here are a few examples of what we’re doing to keep flying into the future.
Keeping you connected with the United app:
There’s a reason our app is one of the top travel apps in the U.S. and a frequent award winner—we’re always innovating to bring you new features that improve your travel experience from start to finish. Some of the latest improvements include real-time weather radar maps for flights, dynamic seat maps that let you swap seats in seconds, and automatic rebooking assistance when flights are delayed or canceled. That’s in addition to the interactive terminal maps, inflight entertainment capabilities, and much more that are available within the app.
Keeping you in the know:
While our app automatically gives travelers access to helpful info, it takes several teams working behind the scenes in real-time to deliver it to you. One example is our “storytellers,” who work in United network operations centers, monitoring thousands of flights every day and creating in-the-moment messages for customers when things don’t go as planned. Thanks to these teams and other United tech, we aim to keep you as up-to-date as possible on exactly what’s causing a delay and what we’re doing to resolve it. You’ll see these messages on the Flight Status page in the app, as well as in operational emails and texts we send.
Keeping travel accessible for everyone:
We’re committed to making sure every traveler can fly with us safely and comfortably. Earlier this year, United launched a new digital tool on its app and united.com that makes it easier for customers who use wheelchairs to find flights that can best accommodate the specific dimensions of their personal mobility device. We also are proud to be a leader in accessible travel, with a range of features—from Braille placards onboard to accessibility options in seatback screens and our app—designed to make it easy for everyone to fly.
Keeping aviation sustainable for future generations:
As we fly into the future, we remain committed to protecting our planet for generations to come. That’s why we’ve continued to be a global leader in efforts to reduce carbon emissions— not just from our own operations, but across the aviation industry. Through United Airlines Ventures, we’ve led a total of more than $200 million in investments supporting sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) development, battery-powered aircraft, and more. With these investments, and with help from corporate partners and even fellow passengers through our Sustainable Flight Fund, we look forward to a world that remains safe and healthy for everyone well into the future.
